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

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Saturday, October 3, 2026 - 8:38 PM

Dollars and euros (Reference image created with Artificial Intelligence)Photo © CiberCuba/ChatGPT

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, closes the day this Saturday, October 3, 2026, with the dollar and the euro on the rise compared to the previous day. The Cuban peso continues to lose ground against the two main cash currencies, while the MLC experiences a significant decline, although its quotation should be viewed with caution due to the limited volume of operations supporting it.

The U.S. dollar is trading at 785 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this trading day. This represents an increase of 5.5 pesos compared to the previous session, when the average value was at 780 CUP. In a weekly perspective, the U.S. currency has risen by 47.5 pesos from the 738 CUP recorded seven days ago, equating to an increase of 6.4%. Over the last month, the dollar has gained 102.5 pesos from the 683 CUP recorded 30 days ago, although this 30-day comparison may partially reflect methodological adjustments in the index and not just market movements. Today, the dollar hits its highest point in the last 30 days, with a ceiling of 785 CUP and a floor of 683 CUP during that period. It continues to set the tone for the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro is quoted at 885 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this trading day. This represents an increase of 7 pesos compared to the previous day, when the average value was at 878 CUP. Over the last week, the European currency has risen 45.5 pesos from the 840 CUP recorded seven days ago, reflecting a 5.4% increase. In the last month, it has accumulated a gain of 112.5 pesos from the 773 CUP of 30 days ago, although this comparison should be interpreted with caution due to potential methodological adjustments of the index. Today, the euro reaches its highest point in the last 30 days, ranging between 773 and 885 CUP during that period. It surpasses the dollar by 100 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC is quoted tentatively at 460 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this trading session, a figure that should be taken with caution due to the low volume of operations backing it. This represents a decline of 25.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when the average value was 486 CUP. In the last week, it has decreased by 24.5 pesos from the 485 CUP recorded seven days ago, and in the last month, it has accumulated a loss of 49 pesos from the 509 CUP of 30 days ago. Its peak in the last 30 days was 547 CUP, while its minimum was 415 CUP. Without physical existence, its use is limited to state-run businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Exchange Rate Evolution

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 785 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 885 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 460 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), at 695 CUP per dollar and 783 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 (695 CUP) and the informal rate (785 CUP) exceeds 90 pesos; in the case of the euro, the difference between the official rate of 783 CUP and the 885 CUP in the parallel market is nearly 102 pesos.

In a scenario of sustained inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every fluctuation 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 buying and selling posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation disregards atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction based on its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.