The price of the dollar rises in the informal market in Cuba

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 10:58

Dollar in Cuba (reference image)Photo © CiberCuba

At 10:00 a.m., local time in Havana, shows an upward trend this Saturday, September 12, 2026.

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 693 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buying rate around 690 CUP and a selling rate of about 695 CUP. This represents an increase of 5 pesos compared to the previous day, when the U.S. currency averaged 688 CUP.

From a weekly perspective, the dollar has risen by 10 pesos compared to the 683 CUP recorded seven days ago. When looking at a 30-day comparison, the current exchange rate is 27.5 pesos higher than the 665 CUP at that time. However, it is important to note that this difference may partly reflect adjustments in the methodology of the index and not solely market movement.

The value today also coincides with the highest recorded in the last month, while the minimum for that period was 663 CUP. It continues to reflect the pulse of the informal market in a context of structural currency scarcity.

Exchange Rate Evolution

The euro is trading at 787 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the black market, with a buy price of 785 CUP and a sell price of 789 CUP. Compared to the previous day, when an average value of 785 CUP was reported, the European currency has increased by 2 pesos.

In the last week, the euro has risen by 10 pesos from 777 CUP seven days ago. The comparison over 30 days, which should be made with the same methodological caution noted for the dollar, shows a gain of 27 pesos compared to the 760 CUP at that time.

The maximum over the last 30 days stands at the current level of 787 CUP, while the minimum for the period was 746 CUP. It exceeds the dollar by 94 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC is priced around 459 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buying rate of about 456 CUP and a selling rate of nearly 462 CUP. This value should be taken as indicative, given the limited volume of transactions that supports its quotation during this time period.

Regarding the previous session, the MLC shows a decrease of 16.5 pesos, which represents a decline of 3.5%. In contrast, compared to seven days ago—when it averaged 451 CUP—it has accumulated a gain of 8 pesos.

The range over the last 30 days has been particularly wide for this currency: between a minimum of 408 CUP and a maximum of 529 CUP, reflecting the volatility associated with its lower liquidity. Without physical existence, its use is limited to state-run businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Summary of informal market rates

Exchange rate from USD to CUP: 693 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 787 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 459 CUP (indicative value).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set this Saturday at 655 CUP per dollar and 760 CUP per euro, remains well below the values that prevail in daily practice in the informal currency market.

Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from that of the informal market and does not fulfill the actual demand for foreign currency among the population. The gap between both markets currently reaches 38 pesos for the dollar and 27 pesos for the euro.

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

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

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