This is how the informal market closes in Cuba: The dollar rises while the euro remains stagnant

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - 8:40 PM

Street in Cuba and hundred-dollar bill (Reference image)Photo © CiberCuba/ChatGpt

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, the closes this Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with a day of mixed performance among the main currencies.

The US dollar finishes higher, the euro remains unchanged, and the MLC shows a slight increase compared to the opening, although its quotation should be taken with caution due to the low trading volume backing it.

The United States dollar (USD)

The US dollar is quoted at 688 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Wednesday. This represents an increase of 2.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it closed at 685 CUP.

In the weekly balance, the greenback has risen by 10 pesos compared to the 678 CUP recorded a week ago, which represents an increase of 1.5%. Over the last month, the U.S. dollar has climbed 17.5 pesos from the 670 CUP noted 30 days ago, although it is important to consider that this comparison may partly reflect methodological adjustments to the index.

Exchange Rate Evolution

In the last 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 663 CUP and a high of 688 CUP reached today. It continues to set the tone in the informal market amid a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro (EUR)

The euro closes the day at 778 Cuban pesos (CUP), showing no changes compared to the previous session. The European currency thus marks another day of stability in its daily exchange rate, although in the balance of the last seven days, it has gained 7.5 pesos from the 770 CUP of a week ago, an increase of 1%.

Compared to 30 days ago, when it was at 773 CUP, the increase is more moderate, just 5 pesos, and it should be interpreted with caution as it may include methodological adjustments.

In the past month, the euro has fluctuated between a low of 746 CUP and a high of 780 CUP. It is established as the most expensive currency on the Cuban parallel market, surpassing the dollar by 90 pesos at today's close.

The MLC

The Freely Convertible Currency (MLC) closes around 465 Cuban pesos (CUP), a value that should be considered indicative due to the low volume of transactions recorded during this time period.

Compared to the previous day, it rises by 3 pesos from the 462 CUP on Tuesday. However, in the weekly balance, it drops by 8 pesos from the 473 CUP a week ago.

In the last month, the MLC has fluctuated between a minimum of 408 CUP and a maximum of 529 CUP, a range that reflects the volatility of a currency with lower liquidity in the informal market. Without a physical existence, its use is limited to state-run businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Summary of exchange rates as of the close on September 9, 2026

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 688 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 778 CUP.
Exchange rate of MLC to CUP: 465 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) stands at 649 CUP per dollar and 754 CUP per euro, which remains well below the values that prevail in everyday practice in the informal currency market.

Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far removed from that of the informal market and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency among the population.

The gap between the official and informal rates reflects the ongoing shortage of foreign currency in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros among the population, whether for emigrating, importing goods, protecting savings, or making purchases in the private sector.

In a scenario of sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every change in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.

The Exchange Rate of CiberCuba is an index of the Cuban informal market created through the automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange posts in Telegram and Facebook groups.

The calculation discards atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction based on its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.