{
  "id": 9950912,
  "title": "Cuba Informal Exchange Rate Hits New Highs of 730 Pesos to the US Dollar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/cuba-informal-exchange-rate-hits-new-highs-of-730-pesos-to-the-us",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-26T08:25:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/cuba-informal-exchange-rate-record-dollar-euro-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cuba's unofficial exchange rate for the US dollar has hit a record high of 730 pesos per dollar, according to an independent tracker called elTOQUE. This rate is significantly higher than the official rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba, which currently stands at about 678 pesos per dollar. The unofficial rate, which reflects the actual price Cubans pay for dollars, has risen by approximately 59% over the past nine months, from 460 pesos per dollar on January 10th to 730 pesos on September 26th. The situation has been exacerbated by Cuba's shrinking economy, which has seen a significant decline in foreign currency earnings and remittance flows. Average wages in state-funded jobs have also failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living, with an average monthly wage of 6,930 pesos equating to about US$9.50 on the unofficial rate. The government has raised the minimum wage in state-funded jobs from 2,100 to 3,210 pesos, but at the current unofficial rate, this translates to roughly US$4.40 per month - far below the estimated US$62 needed for basic necessities for a couple. The Central Bank's recent introduction of a third official exchange rate aimed at closing the gap between official and unofficial rates has been met with skepticism, with state media accusing the tracker elTOQUE of manipulating the figures. The spread between the official and unofficial rates remains significant, hovering near 50 pesos, and the government's plans to create an official exchange market have not yet materialized, with Cubans continuing to trade dollars through informal channels.",
  "summary": "Cuba's informal exchange rate has hit new highs, with the US dollar at 730 pesos and the euro at 840, while the Central Bank's own rate trails near 678. The post Cuba Informal Exchange Rate Hits New Highs of 730 Pesos to the US Dollar appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}