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

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Thursday, October 29, 2026 - 8:10 PM

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

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, the informal currency market in Cuba closes this Thursday, October 29, with the dollar and the euro on the rise. The U.S. dollar ends the day at an average value of 866 Cuban pesos (CUP), while the euro climbs to 950 pesos. Regarding the MLC, available data is scarce during this time frame, and its value should be considered indicative: it suggests a decline to 702 pesos. This information is part of the that CiberCuba updates several times a day.

The US dollar is quoted at 866 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Thursday. This represents an increase of 8.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it closed at 858 CUP. In the last week, the US currency has risen by 39.5 pesos, an increase of 4.8% from the 827 CUP recorded seven days ago. Compared to 30 days ago, when it was at 753 CUP, the accumulated rise is 113.5 pesos, although it is worth noting that this comparison may partially reflect methodological adjustments of the index. In the last 30 days, the dollar has reached a maximum of 867 CUP and a minimum of 753 CUP. It continues to define the pulse of the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro closes the day at 950 Cuban pesos (CUP), its highest value in the last 30 days. This represents an increase of 10.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it stood at 940 CUP. Over the past week, the European currency has gained 35 pesos (+3.8%) from the 915 CUP recorded seven days ago. Thirty days ago, it was trading at 855 CUP, indicating a difference of 95 pesos, although this comparison should be considered cautiously due to potential methodological adjustments. It is established as the most expensive currency in the Cuban parallel market, surpassing the dollar by 84 pesos.

The MLC closes with a reference value of 702 Cuban pesos (CUP), as the available data in this range is scarce and unreliable. According to data from the previous session, it was trading at 721 CUP on Wednesday, representing a drop of 19.5 pesos. However, in the last week, it has accumulated an increase of 26 pesos compared to the 676 CUP from seven days ago. With no physical existence, its use is limited to the state-run stores that accept it, restricting its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 866 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 950 CUP.
Exchange rate of MLC to CUP: 702 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), at 758 CUP per dollar and 844 CUP per euro, remains far below the values that apply in the everyday practices of the informal currency market.

Exchange Rate Evolution

Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from that of the informal market and does not meet the actual demand for foreign currency from the population. The gap between the official dollar rate (758 CUP) and the informal rate (866 CUP) exceeds 100 pesos, while in the case of the euro, the difference between the official rate of 844 CUP and the parallel market rate of 950 is nearly 106 pesos.

In a scenario of sustained inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every change in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.

The CiberCuba Exchange Rate 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 according to its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.