# Cuba Dollar Rate Hits Record 800 Pesos

> Cuba's informal dollar rate hits record 800 pesos, eroding wages and savings.
- Title: Cuba Dollar Rate Hits Record 800 Pesos · The Rio Times
- Summary: Cuba's informal dollar rate hits record 800 pesos, eroding wages and savings. Cuba's informal dollar rate reached 800 pesos, nearly 11 times the average…
- Keywords: cuba, dollar rate, pesos, informal market, wages, state wage, average state wage, cuba dollar, cuba peso, cuba economy, cuba us tensions, remittances
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/cuba-dollar-rate-record-800-pesos-2026
- Author: Lachlan Williams
- Published: 2026-10-16T16:58:42+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cuba, dollar rate, pesos, informal market, wages, state wage, average state wage, cuba dollar, cuba peso, cuba economy, cuba us tensions, remittances
## Record Dollar Rate
Cuba's informal dollar rate reached a record 800 pesos on Thursday, 15 October, and held there on Friday.

> The Cuba dollar rate on the informal market reached a record 800 pesos on Thursday, 15 October.
## Wage Impact
At 800 pesos per US$ the average state wage of 7,354 pesos is worth about US$9.19 a month.

> The average state wage of 7,354 pesos is worth about US$9.19 at 800 pesos per US$.
## Rate Comparison
Banks buy dollars at 693 to 695 pesos, while state-run Cadeca sells at 704 pesos in city centres and 690 at airports.

> 14ymedio says banks buy dollars at 693 to 695 pesos, well below the informal rate.
## Recent Trends
The dollar rose 10 pesos to 800 on Thursday, following 770 on 7 October and 795 on 14 October.

> 14ymedio lists the dollar at 785 pesos on Sunday, 4 October, 770 on Wednesday, 7 October, and 795 on Wednesday, 14 October.
## Economic Context
Since the end of June, the dollar has gained 195 pesos (32.2%), with the average state wage at 7,354 pesos.

> Since the end of June, when it closed at 605 pesos, the dollar has gained 195 pesos, or 32.2%.
## US Reader Impact
A US$100 gift buys about 80,000 pesos, nearly 11 times the average state wage of 7,354 pesos.

> A US$100 gift now buys about 80,000 pesos at the informal rate, nearly 11 times the average state wage.
## What to Watch
The dollar may hold 800 pesos when daily readings resume on Monday, 19 October, and the informal euro rate could pass 900 pesos.

> What to watch whether the dollar holds 800 pesos when daily readings resume on Monday, 19 October.
## Private Exchange House
The first private exchange house opened in Havana with the central bank's authorization, according to 14ymedio.

> 14ymedio names it ADT 64 in Santa Clara and says its prices have not stayed below informal quotes since the recent rise.
## Inflation Impact
Annual inflation reached 28.44% in September, adding to price pressure on imported food and goods.

> Annual inflation reached 28.44% in September, as the Rio Times reported on Thursday in its inflation report.
## US Treasury Action
The US Treasury sanctioned the Cuban bank BICSA in the week the dollar rate hit 800 pesos.

> The US Treasury sanctioned the Cuban bank BICSA, as the Rio Times reported.
## What Comes Next
elTOQUE and CiberCuba will update their readings daily, with the dollar rate potentially holding at 800 pesos on Monday.

> elTOQUE and CiberCuba update their readings daily, so Monday, 19 October, will show whether 800 pesos holds.
## Key takeaway

Cuba's informal dollar rate reached 800 pesos, nearly 11 times the average state wage of 7,354 pesos.