This is how the informal market in Cuba closes: The dollar and the euro end with an increase

Latest News
By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Friday, September 18, 2026 - 9:22 PM

Dollars (Reference image)Photo © CiberCuba

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, closes out this Friday, September 18, 2026, with increases in the dollar and the euro.

Both currencies end the week at higher prices than those recorded the day before, while the MLC, with limited data, also shows a significant increase, although its value should be considered as indicative.

The upward trend continues to pressure the purchasing power of Cubans at the end of the week.

The US dollar

The US dollar closes this Friday with an average value of 706 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buy price of 701 CUP and a sell price of 710 CUP.

Exchange Rate Evolution

This represents an increase of 3 pesos compared to the previous day, when the exchange rate was 703 CUP.

In the weekly perspective, the dollar has increased by 14 pesos compared to the 692 CUP recorded seven days ago, which represents a rise of 2%. Compared to 30 days ago, when it was trading around 663 CUP, the U.S. currency has risen 43 pesos, an increase of 6.5%, although this comparison may partly reflect methodological adjustments in the index.

The dollar also reached its highest point in the last 30 days during this session, at 706 CUP. It continues to set the tone for the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro

The euro closes the day as the most expensive currency in the Cuban parallel market, with an average value of 805 Cuban pesos (CUP), buying at 800 CUP and selling at 809 CUP.

Compared to the previous day, when an average price of 798 CUP was reported, the euro has risen by 7 pesos, an increase of 0.9%.

In the past week, the European currency has gained 20 pesos compared to 785 CUP from seven days ago, an increase of 2.5%. Compared to 30 days ago, when it was around 750 CUP, the euro has accumulated a rise of 54.5 pesos (7.3%), although this variation should be interpreted cautiously as it may include methodological adjustments.

The euro reaches its highest point in the last 30 days today, at 805 CUP. It surpasses the dollar by 99 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the informal market.

The MLC

The MLC closes with an indicative average value of 483 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a purchase rate of 449 CUP and a selling rate of 517 CUP. The available data for this range is limited, so the figure should be taken with caution.

Regarding the previous session, when a value of 453 CUP was reported, the MLC records an increase of 30.5 pesos (6.7%). In the last week, however, the digital currency has decreased by 22 pesos compared to the 461 CUP from seven days ago.

Without physical existence, its use is limited to the state-run businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation in comparison to cash currencies.

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 706 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 805 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 483 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set this Friday at 667 CUP per dollar and 765 CUP per euro, remains well below the values that govern daily 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 the official and informal rates today reaches 39 pesos for the dollar and 40 pesos for the euro.

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

The bullish close of this week, with the dollar at a 30-day high and the euro at its highest level in the past month, exacerbates the pressure on Cuban households even further.

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