This is how the informal market closes in Cuba: The dollar and the euro end the day on the rise

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Sunday, September 13, 2026 - 9:47 PM

Reference image created with Artificial IntelligencePhoto © CiberCuba / ChatGPT

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, the closes this Sunday, September 13, 2026, with the dollar and euro rising compared to the previous day. The U.S. dollar ends the day at 694 Cuban pesos, the euro reaches 791 pesos, and the MLC stands around 479 pesos, although this last figure should be taken as indicative due to the low volume of transactions recorded during this time frame.

The day's balance confirms a sustained upward trend in the two main currencies of the Cuban informal market, showing advancements both compared to yesterday and to a week and a month ago.

Dollar (USD)

The US dollar is trading at 694 Cuban pesos (CUP) as of the close of this Sunday. This represents an increase of 1 peso compared to the previous day, when it closed at 693 CUP. Looking at the weekly perspective, the North American currency has accumulated a rise of 11 pesos from the 683 CUP recorded seven days ago, which translates to a 1.6% increase. In comparison to 30 days ago, when it was around 664 pesos, the gain amounts to nearly 30 pesos, although it is important to note that this comparison may partly reflect methodological adjustments of the index. Over the past 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 663 and the high of 694 CUP recorded today. It continues to set the tone for the informal market in the context of a structural shortage of foreign currency.

Euro (EUR)

The euro closes the day at 791 Cuban pesos (CUP), reflecting an increase of 3 pesos compared to the previous session, when it was at 788 CUP. Over the last week, the European currency has risen by 15.5 pesos from the 775 CUP it was at seven days ago, marking a 2% increase. Compared to 30 days ago, when it was around 760 pesos, the gain is approximately 30.5 pesos, although this monthly reference should be considered with caution due to possible methodological adjustments. The highest rate in the last 30 days is 792 CUP, and the lowest is 746 CUP. It surpasses the dollar by 97 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

MLC

The MLC will close this Sunday at around 479 Cuban pesos (CUP), although this value should be considered indicative given the low volume of recorded transactions. This represents an increase of 18.5 pesos compared to yesterday's close, when it stood at 460 CUP, and of 63.5 pesos compared to the 415 CUP from seven days ago. In the last 30 days, it has fluctuated between a minimum of 408 and a maximum of 529 CUP. With no physical existence, its use is limited to the state-owned businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Summary of exchange rates as of the close on September 13, 2026

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 694 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 791 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 479 CUP (guideline value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) is set at 655 CUP per dollar and 760 CUP per euro, remaining well below the rates that apply in everyday practice in the informal currency market.

Although Segment III was presented as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from that of the informal market and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency from the population. The gap between both markets is currently 39 pesos in the case of the dollar and 31 pesos for the euro.

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

The Exchange Rate of CiberCuba is an index of the informal Cuban market developed through the automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange posts in Telegram and Facebook groups; the calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction according to its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated multiple times a day.