The informal market in Cuba closes: Here's how the dollar and the euro fared

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - 8:18 PM

Dollars (Reference image)Photo © CiberCuba

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, closes this Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with mixed signals.

The US dollar ends the day with a slight decline, the euro strengthens significantly, and the MLC, with limited available data, shows a drop that should be taken with caution.

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 908 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Wednesday. This represents a drop of 2.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it was at 910 CUP.

In the last week, the greenback has dropped by 7.5 pesos from the 915 CUP it was at seven days ago. In terms of the monthly comparison, 30 days ago the exchange rate was 788 CUP, which represents an increase of 120 pesos. However, it is important to note that this variation may partly reflect methodological adjustments in the index rather than just market movement.

In the last month, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 788 CUP and a high of 940 CUP. It continues to drive the dynamics of the informal market amid a context of structural currency shortages.

Exchange Rate Evolution

The euro closes the day at 985 Cuban pesos (CUP), reflecting an increase of 9.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it stood at 976 CUP. However, in the past week, the European currency has decreased by 10.5 pesos from the 996 CUP recorded seven days ago.

The comparison over 30 days—adhering to the same methodological caution mentioned—shows an increase of 100 pesos compared to the 885 CUP at that time.

In the last month, the euro has reached a high of 1.010 CUP and a low of 885 CUP. It surpasses the dollar by 77 pesos, consolidating its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC closes around 628 Cuban pesos (CUP), although this value should be considered merely indicative since the data available during this timeframe is limited. Compared to the previous day, the digital currency shows a decrease of 10 pesos from the 638 CUP of yesterday.

In the past week, the decline has become more pronounced: seven days ago, it was at 758 CUP, indicating a drop of 130.5 pesos. 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: 908 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 985 CUP.
Exchange rate of MLC to CUP: 628 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) is 813 CUP per dollar and 909 CUP per euro, which remains well below the values that prevail in the daily practice of the informal currency market.

Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible currency 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 and informal exchange rates reflects the ongoing scarcity of foreign currencies in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros from the population, whether for emigration, importing goods, protecting savings, or making purchases in the private sector.

In a context of sustained inflation, low state wages, and the 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 from CiberCuba is an index of the Cuban informal market developed from the automated analysis of thousands of currency trading 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.