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 price around 690 CUP and a selling price about 695 CUP. This represents an increase of 5 pesos compared to the previous day, when the U.S. currency averaged 688 CUP.

In a weekly perspective, the dollar has risen by 10 pesos compared to the 683 CUP recorded seven days ago. A 30-day comparison shows the current exchange rate is 27.5 pesos higher than the 665 CUP from that time, although it's important to note that this difference may partly reflect adjustments in the index methodology rather than solely market movements.

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 set the tone for the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

Exchange Rate Evolution

The euro is quoted at 787 Cuban pesos (CUP) on the black market, with a buying price of 785 CUP and a selling price of 789 CUP. Compared to the previous day, when an average value of 785 CUP was reported, the European currency has risen by 2 pesos.

In the last week, the euro has risen 10 pesos from 777 CUP seven days ago. Comparing it to 30 days ago, which should be approached 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 of the last 30 days stands precisely at the current level of 787 CUP, while the minimum for the period was 746 CUP. It exceeds the dollar by 94 pesos, consolidating its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC is priced around 459 Cuban pesos (CUP), with purchasing around 456 CUP and selling close to 462 CUP. This value should be considered as indicative, given the low volume of transactions supporting its quotation during this time frame.

Regarding the previous session, the MLC registers a drop of 16.5 pesos, representing a decrease 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 broad for this currency: from a minimum of 408 CUP to a maximum of 529 CUP, reflecting the volatility associated with its lower liquidity. Without a physical existence, its use is limited to state-owned businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Summary of informal market rates

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 693 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 787 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 459 CUP (guideline 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 govern everyday transactions 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 meet the actual demand for foreign currency from the population. The gap between both markets currently reaches 38 pesos in the case of the dollar and 27 pesos in the case of the euro.

In a scenario of sustained inflation, low state wages, and increasingly 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 Cuban informal market generated through the automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts in Telegram and Facebook groups.

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