At 10:00 a.m., local Cuban time, records a milestone this Saturday, October 17, 2026, that marks a turning point in the recent history of the Cuban peso: the US dollar surpasses the barrier of 800 pesos and establishes a new record.
The North American dollar is exchanged at an average rate of 805 pesos, the euro rises to 901 pesos, and the Freely Convertible Currency (MLC) hovers around 634 pesos, although this last value should be considered as indicative due to the lack of available data during this time period.
Summary of exchange rates
- Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 805 CUP.
- Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 901 CUP.
- Exchange rate of MLC to CUP: 634 CUP (indicative value, limited data).
The dollar has broken through the 800 peso barrier
The US dollar is trading this Saturday at 805 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, with a buying rate of 800 CUP and a selling rate of 810 CUP.
This represents an increase of seven pesos compared to the previous day, when the average exchange rate was 798 pesos.
This is the first time the dollar has surpassed the 800 peso mark since records began in the Cuban informal market, marking a milestone that reflects the accelerated deterioration of the peso.
Exchange Rate Evolution
In the last week, the dollar has risen by 27.5 pesos, a 3.5% increase compared to seven days ago, when it was exchanged at 778 pesos.
The monthly trend is even more pronounced: 30 days ago, the average exchange rate was 700 pesos, which indicates an increase of 105 pesos during that period, equivalent to a 15% rise. However, it is worth noting that part of this variation may reflect adjustments in the index methodology rather than solely market movement.
In the last 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 701 pesos and today's historic high of 805 pesos.
The demand for dollars remains high among those seeking to protect their savings against the ongoing depreciation of the peso.
The euro exceeds 900 pesos
The euro starts this day at 901 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a purchase price of 900 CUP and a selling price of 901 CUP. Compared to the previous day, when an average value of 895 pesos was reported, the euro has increased by 6 pesos, which is a rise of 0.6%.
In the last week, the European currency has gained 25.5 pesos compared to the 875 CUP from seven days ago, an increase of 2.9%.
The 30-day comparison shows an increase of 104 pesos from the 797 CUP recorded a month ago, a rise of 13.1%. However, this figure should be interpreted cautiously as it may include methodological adjustments to the index.
In the last month, the euro has fluctuated between a low of 796 pesos and a high of 903 pesos.
It is regarded as the most expensive currency in the Cuban parallel market, surpassing the dollar by 96 pesos and driven by limited supply and the demand from those receiving remittances from Europe.
The MLC, indicative value
The MLC is around 634 Cuban pesos (CUP) this Saturday, with a buying rate of 508 CUP and a selling rate of 760 CUP.
This value should be regarded as merely indicative, as the source warns that the available data in this range is scarce.
Regarding the previous session, when an average value of 623 pesos was reported, the MLC increased by approximately 11.5 pesos.
In the last week, it has increased by 110 pesos from 524 CUP seven days ago, a rise of 21%.
In the last 30 days, the MLC has risen from 453 to 634 pesos, although this 40% variation may partly reflect adjustments in the methodology of the index.
A purely digital currency, without physical existence in banknotes, its usage is limited to state-run businesses authorized to operate in this currency, which are the only establishments that accept it, restricting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
An unprecedented milestone in the informal market
The surpassing of the barrier of 800 pesos per dollar this Saturday, October 17, 2026, marks the highest level recorded since systematic monitoring of the Cuban informal market began.
Just a month ago, the dollar was exchanging for 700 pesos; a week ago, it was 778.
The pace of the climb—over 100 pesos in 30 days—has no recent precedent and demonstrates an acceleration in the depreciation process of the Cuban peso, which directly impacts the purchasing power of the population.
The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set today at 720 CUP per dollar and 811 CUP per euro, remains significantly below the values that govern everyday transactions in the informal currency market.
The gap between the official and informal exchange rates now reaches 85 pesos for the dollar and 90 pesos for the euro, a difference that illustrates the disconnection between the formal economy and the reality experienced by Cubans.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains significantly distant from that of the informal market and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency from the population.
In the last 30 days, the official dollar has risen from 664 to 720 CUP, a significant adjustment that, however, has not managed to stop the rise in the parallel market.
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 breach of the 800 peso barrier is not just a number: it reflects a structural crisis that the Cuban regime has been unable to contain.
Equivalence of United States dollar (USD) to Cuban peso (CUP)
- 1 USD = 805 CUP.
- 5 USD = 4,025 CUP.
- 10 USD = 8,050 CUP.
- 20 USD = 16,100 CUP.
- 50 USD = 40,250 CUP.
- 100 USD = 80,500 CUP.
Equivalence of euro banknotes (EUR) to Cuban peso (CUP)
- 1 EUR = 901 CUP.
- 5 EUR = 4.505 CUP.
- 10 EUR = 9,010 CUP.
- 20 EUR = 18,020 CUP.
- 50 EUR = 45,050 CUP.
- 100 EUR = 90,100 CUP.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market created from 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 according to its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated multiple times a day.
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