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

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 - 8:32 PM

Dollars (Reference image)Photo © CiberCuba

At 8:00 PM, Cuban local time, the informal currency market in Cuba closes its session on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, with the dollar and the euro rising once again.

The U.S. dollar ends the day at around 760 Cuban pesos, while the euro rises to 865 pesos.

The MLC, for its part, closes around 491 pesos, although this figure should be taken as indicative due to the low volume of operations backing it. You can check the complete evolution in the .

The US dollar is quoted at 760 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this trading day. This represents an increase of 7 pesos compared to the previous day, when it was at 753 CUP.

Exchange Rate Evolution

The trend is clearly upward: in the last week, the dollar has risen by 35 pesos, a 4.8% increase compared to seven days ago, when it was trading at 725 CUP. Compared to 30 days ago, the exchange rate has accumulated a rise of 82 pesos, although it is worth noting that this comparison may partially reflect methodological adjustments in the index.

The dollar also reached its highest point in the last 30 days during this session, peaking at 760 CUP. It continues to set the pace for the informal market within a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro is trading at 865 Cuban pesos (CUP) at closing, which represents an increase of 10 pesos compared to the previous day, when it closed at 855 CUP. In the past week, the European currency has gained 39.5 pesos, a 4.8% increase from the 826 CUP a week ago.

Like the dollar, the euro today reached its highest point in the last 30 days, with a low of 765 CUP during that period. The comparison over 30 days shows an increase of 96 pesos, although this figure should be interpreted cautiously due to possible methodological adjustments of the index. It surpasses the dollar by 105 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC closes around 491 Cuban pesos (CUP), a value that should be regarded as indicative due to the low volume of transactions recorded during this time period.

This represents a decrease of 8.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it was at 500 CUP. In the last week, however, it has accumulated an increase of 23 pesos compared to the 468 CUP from seven days ago.

Without a physical existence, its use is limited to state-owned businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Closing exchange rate: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 760 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 865 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 491 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), at 684 CUP per dollar and 775 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 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 dollar rate (684 CUP) and the informal rate (760 CUP) exceeds 76 pesos; in the case of the euro, the difference between the official 775 CUP and the 865 CUP in the parallel market reaches 90 pesos.

In a scenario of sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every fluctuation in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans. The fact that the dollar has risen more than 82 pesos in a month —and the euro nearly 96— illustrates the pressure the Cuban peso is under against foreign currencies.

The informal currency market in Cuba operates outside the state's financial institutions, via networks for buying and selling between individuals. Although the Cuban regime does not officially recognize it, it is the market that effectively determines the real purchasing power of Cubans.

The exchange rate of CiberCuba is an index of the informal Cuban market, compiled from the automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts in Telegram and Facebook groups.

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