Cuba's Informal Currency Market: Dollar Stable, Euro Gains Slightly

The informal currency market in Cuba closed on August 22, 2026, with the US dollar remaining unchanged at 663 Cuban pesos (CUP). This stability comes as no surprise, given that the greenback has only decreased by one peso from its level seven days ago. On a 30-day basis, it has dropped by seven pesos from 670 CUP.

The euro saw a slight increase to 750 CUP compared to the previous day, but has lost ground over the past week, trading at 760 CUP seven days ago. In contrast, its value has declined more significantly over a 30-day period, dropping by 28 pesos from 778 CUP.

The MLC (Moneda Libremente Cotizada), Cuba's other unofficial currency, closed with an indicative average value of 417 CUP, down 32.5 pesos or 7.2% compared to the previous day. However, due to low trading volume, this figure should be taken with caution.

The gap between the official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba and the informal market rates remains significant, with the dollar priced at 25 pesos higher in the informal market than the official rate of 638 CUP per dollar. This disparity underscores the structural currency shortages affecting Cuba's economy.