Thus, the informal market in Cuba closes: the dollar declines and the euro also loses ground

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Sunday, November 8, 2026 - 8:22 PM

The informal currency market effectively determines the real purchasing power of Cubans (Reference image)Photo © CiberCuba/ChatGPT

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, the closes this Sunday, November 8, 2026, with declines in the two main currencies. The US dollar and the euro end the day lower compared to yesterday, while the MLC records a slight increase, although its quotation should be taken with caution due to the low trading volume.

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 921 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Sunday, with a buying price of 911 CUP and a selling price of 930 CUP. This represents a decrease of 12 pesos compared to the previous day, when the average value was 933 CUP. Despite this setback, the North American currency has gained 25.5 pesos over the last week, when it hovered around 895 CUP, and remains well above the levels from a month ago, although the 30-day comparison may partly reflect methodological adjustments in the index. The demand for dollars remains high among those looking to protect their savings against the depreciation of the peso.

The euro closes the day around 997 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a range between 980 CUP for buying and 1,014 CUP for selling. The European currency has decreased by 13 pesos compared to the previous session, when it had an average value of 1,010 CUP. Nevertheless, the euro has accumulated an increase of 14.5 pesos over the last seven days, compared to the 983 CUP recorded a week ago. It surpasses the dollar by 76 pesos, consolidating its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC stands at around 683 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close, with a purchase rate of 636 CUP and a sale rate of 729 CUP. This value should be taken as indicative, given the low volume of transactions recorded during this time frame. Compared to the previous day, it has increased by 6 pesos from the 677 CUP of yesterday. In the last month, the MLC has fluctuated between a minimum of 496 CUP and a maximum of 795 CUP. Without physical existence, its use is limited to state-run stores that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 921 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 997 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 683 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set this Sunday at 800 CUP per dollar and 892 CUP per euro, remains well below the values that govern everyday transactions in the informal currency market. The gap between both markets exceeds 121 pesos in the case of the dollar and 105 pesos in the case of the euro.

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 fails to meet the real currency demand of the population. In the last month, the official dollar has risen from 698 to 800 CUP and the euro from 782 to 892 CUP, but the parallel market continues to dictate the true pace of the Cuban economy.

In a scenario of sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every variation in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans. The dollar has reached a maximum of 940 CUP in the last 30 days, while the euro peaked at 1,010 CUP recorded precisely yesterday.

The Exchange Rate of CiberCuba is an index of the Cuban informal market produced through the automated analysis of thousands of currency buy and sell postings in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction based on its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated multiple times a day.