This is how the informal market closes in Cuba: the dollar rises and the euro loses ground

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Monday, October 26, 2026 - 8:11 PM

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

The informal currency market in Cuba closes this Monday with varying behavior among its main currencies: the dollar rises while the euro slips slightly, as the Cuban peso continues to lose ground against foreign currencies.

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, reports at the close of this Monday, October 26, 2026, a rising US dollar, a euro that declines slightly, and an MLC with a reference value that should be taken with caution. The day's balance confirms the sustained pressure on the Cuban peso, which continues to depreciate against the benchmark currencies.

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 843 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Monday. This represents an increase of 5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it was at 838 CUP. In a weekly perspective, the U.S. currency has accumulated a rise of 30 pesos from the 813 CUP it recorded seven days ago, which amounts to an increase of 3.7%. The comparison over 30 days shows a rise of 105 pesos since the 738 CUP recorded at the end of September, although it is worth noting that this variation may partly reflect methodological adjustments in the index. The dollar reaches its highest point in the last 30 days today, solidifying itself as the main reference currency in the Cuban informal market.

The euro is trading at 929 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of the day. This represents a decrease of 1 peso compared to the previous day, when it closed at 930 CUP. Despite this slight decline, the European currency maintains an upward trend for the week ahead: seven days ago, it was at 905 CUP, indicating a gain of 23.5 pesos over the week, a rise of 2.6%. In the last month, the euro has climbed 89 pesos from 840 CUP just 30 days ago, though this comparison should be approached with the same methodological caution. It surpasses the dollar by 86 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC appears with an average value of 597 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Monday, although this is a rough reference that should be taken with caution given the low volume of transactions recorded during this time frame. Compared to the previous day, this figure represents an increase of 50 pesos from the 547 CUP on Sunday, and in the last week, it sits 4 pesos above the 593 CUP of seven days ago. Without physical existence, its use is limited to state-run stores that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Exchange Rate Evolution

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 843 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 929 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 597 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), at 743 CUP per dollar and 832 CUP per euro, remains significantly below the rates that prevail in everyday practice in the informal currency market. The gap between the official and informal rates reflects the persistent scarcity of foreign currency in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros among the population, whether for emigration, importing goods, protecting savings, or making purchases in the private sector.

Although Segment III was presented as a more flexible currency 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. 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 developed from the automated analysis of thousands of foreign exchange buying and selling posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation disregards atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction according to its recency, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.