Money in Cuba: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping

Cuba is a cash economy for visitors in 2026. The table below shows what to bring and what to expect, by where your passport was issued and when you travel. Amounts are per person for a trip of about nine days at mid-range level, paid in cash.

Before you fly, order clean, undamaged US dollar or euro notes in small denominations. Torn, marked or old-series notes are often refused. Do not plan to withdraw cash on arrival: ATMs will not pay out on foreign cards, and Visa and Mastercard issued anywhere stopped working on 6 June 2026. US-issued cards never worked at all.

On arrival, change only what you need for the first day or two at an official CADECA house, a bank, or your casa by agreement. Cuba has three official rates — 24 and 120 CUP per US dollar for state accounting, plus a managed floating rate launched in December 2025 (about 680 CUP per US$1 in late September 2026). The informal street rate tracked by elTOQUE was about 730 CUP per US$1 on 26 September 2026. Rates move weekly, so ask your casa host which currency is getting the better rate that week.

Pay casas particulares, taxis and most restaurants in cash. Many private businesses price in dollars or euros, so keep small notes for tips and small purchases. If you run short, Cuban prepaid cards (Clásica, Tropical) are the only card option, and they must be loaded locally — not a plan you can rely on from abroad.

Declare more than US$5,000 on arrival, and note you may take out at most US$5,000. Street exchange is illegal and carries fines; use CADECA, a bank or your casa.

Tipping is expected in Cuba and matters more than in most countries because wages are low and cash is scarce. In restaurants and paladares, 10% is the normal tip; check the bill first, because some places add a service charge. If service is already included, you can leave a little extra for good service but you are not obliged to.

For small services, US$1–2 is standard: luggage handlers, housekeeping (leave it daily, in cash), bathroom attendants, and musicians who play at your table. Taxi drivers do not usually expect a tip on top of an agreed fare, but rounding up is appreciated. Casa hosts are not tipped as a rule; a small gift or a few dollars for extra help is fine.

Because small notes are hard to get, build a stack of US$1 and US$5 bills before you travel. Tipping in CUP is accepted but less useful to the person receiving it, since dollars and euros buy more on the informal market.

Cuba's money situation changes fast. The managed floating rate launched in December 2025 and rates have moved weekly since; the gap between the official and street rate is wide and can shift within a trip. Treat every figure on this page as a 2026 estimate and confirm locally.

The bigger risk is running out of cash. With no working foreign cards and no ATM payouts, a lost wallet or a failed exchange can end a trip early. Split your cash between two places, keep the emergency reserve separate, and do not carry more than you need for the day.

Fuel and power shortages in 2026 have also made some services unreliable, and several governments advise against non-essential travel. Check your government's current advice before booking, and check the rules on cash declaration and exchange before you fly.