This is how the informal market closes in Cuba: the dollar breaks the barrier of 750 pesos

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - 8:42 PM

Dollars (Reference image)Photo © Pixabay

The US dollar broke the barrier of 750 Cuban pesos for the first time, closing on Tuesday, September 29, at an average value of 753 CUP in the informal currency market in Cuba.

At 8:00 p.m., the U.S. dollar recorded buying values of 750 CUP and selling values of 755 CUP, according to the .

The new record confirms the rapid depreciation of the Cuban peso in recent days. The dollar gained eight pesos in just one day, after closing on Monday with an average value of 745 CUP.

The increase is even more pronounced when the comparison period is extended. A week ago, the dollar was at 720 CUP, so it has risen by 33 pesos, approximately 4.6%, in seven days.

Thirty days ago, it was priced at around 676 CUP. Since then, it has increased by 77 pesos, approximately 11.4%, although comparisons over that period should be interpreted with consideration of possible methodological adjustments to the index.

The euro reaches 855 pesos

The euro also ended the day on a high note, with an average value of 855 CUP, a buying rate of 850, and a selling rate of 860 pesos.

The European currency closed the previous day at around 850 CUP, and a week ago it was at 823 CUP. Over the course of seven days, it has gained 32 pesos, approximately 3.9%.

Compared to the 765 CUP recorded 30 days ago, the increase amounts to 90 pesos, approximately 11.8%. This comparison should also be approached with caution due to possible methodological adjustments.

The euro continues to be the currency with the highest exchange rate among the major currencies tracked by the informal market, finishing Tuesday 102 pesos above the dollar.

On its part, the MLC is around 500 CUP, with buying references of 445 and selling references of 554 pesos. This value should be considered indicative due to the low volume of transactions recorded during this time frame.

The reference rates at the close of this Tuesday are as follows:

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 753 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 855 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 500 CUP (indicative value).

The informal market is drifting away from the official rate again

The increase also widens the gap with the exchange rate established by the Central Bank of Cuba for Segment III.

With official rates of 681 CUP per dollar and 775 CUP per euro, the informal market places the dollar at 72 pesos above and the euro at 80 pesos above.

Segment III was introduced by the Cuban authorities as a more flexible currency exchange mechanism, but the persistence of that gap shows that official rates still do not align with the prices at which foreign currencies are traded outside of state channels.

The demand for dollars and euros remains high in an economy characterized by a scarcity of foreign currency, inflation, low salaries in the national currency, and increasing dollarization. Many Cubans use foreign currency to emigrate, import goods, make purchases in the private sector, or try to protect their savings against the depreciation of the peso.

The close on this Tuesday marks a new threshold in the Cuban exchange market: for the first time, more than 750 pesos are needed to acquire one dollar on the informal market.

For those who receive salaries and pensions in national currency, each new increase in foreign exchange further diminishes their ability to access goods and services whose prices are directly or indirectly tied to the dollar.

The Exchange Rate of CiberCuba is an index of the 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 transactions according to their recency, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.