Thus, the informal market in Cuba closes: the dollar rises while the euro remains stable

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 9:16 PM

Dollar and euro bills in Cuba (reference image)Photo © CiberCuba/ChatGPT

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, closes the day this Saturday, September 19, 2026, with the dollar on the rise, the euro stable compared to the previous day, and the MLC showing pronounced movement that should be interpreted with caution due to the low volume of transactions backing it. The pressure on the Cuban peso continues to be the dominant trend in recent weeks.

The US dollar

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 709 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Saturday. This represents an increase of 3.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it closed at 706 CUP. Over the last week, the greenback has risen by 16.5 pesos from the 693 CUP it marked seven days ago, which is a 2.4% increase.

Regarding 30 days ago, when it was around 663 CUP, the accumulated increase is about 46.5 pesos, although this month-to-month comparison may partly reflect adjustments in the methodology of the index. In the last 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 663 and a high of 710 CUP in the informal market. It continues to set the pulse of the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro

The euro is quoted at 805 Cuban pesos (CUP), unchanged from the previous day, where it also closed at the same level. Despite the stability over the last 24 hours, the European currency has gained 17.5 pesos in the last week compared to the 788 CUP from seven days ago, an increase of 2.2%.

Exchange Rate Evolution

In the monthly outlook, the increase is around 55 pesos from the 750 CUP of 30 days ago, although this figure should be taken with caution due to potential methodological adjustments of the index. The euro has reached a maximum of 805 CUP in the last 30 days—precisely the current level—and a minimum of 746 CUP. It is confirmed as the most expensive currency in the Cuban parallel market, exceeding the dollar by 96 pesos.

The MLC

The MLC is around 513 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this trading session, although this figure should be taken as indicative due to the low volume of operations supporting it. Compared to the previous session, when it was recorded at 483 CUP, the increase is 30 pesos, a 6.2% rise in just one day.

In the last week, the increase is 53 pesos from the 460 CUP of seven days ago, and in the last month, the variation is 46 pesos from the 467 CUP. However, in this case, the monthly comparison may be affected by methodological adjustments. Over the past 30 days, the MLC has fluctuated between a low of 408 and a high of 542 CUP. Without 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 Saturday, September 19, 2026

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 709 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 805 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 513 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), at 669 CUP per dollar and 767 CUP per euro, 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 very far from that of the informal market and fails to meet the real demand for foreign currency from the population. The gap between the official and informal rate in the case of the dollar exceeds 40 pesos, while for the euro it approaches 38 pesos.

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

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