Cuba has seen a sharp rise in the number of stores and gas stations operating exclusively in U.S. dollars. As of October 2025, there are 209 dollar-only stores across the country — a 146% increase from just five months ago — along with more than 60 gas stations now selling fuel in dollars. This marks a significant acceleration in the dollarization of the Cuban economy.
Authorities had earlier promised that dollar stores would remain limited to about 7% of total retail locations, but that commitment quickly faded as inflation, currency devaluation, and shortages deepened. Economists note that the limited availability of goods in peso-based markets has driven many Cubans toward the informal exchange market, where the U.S. dollar recently exceeded 400 pesos.
Experts warn that this economic shift is widening inequality, as most Cuban workers earning in pesos cannot afford to buy dollars to access essential products. Meanwhile, many former MLC stores have been quietly converted into dollar-only outlets, often overnight, with the same goods now priced in foreign currency.
Purchases in these establishments can only be made in U.S. dollars — either in cash, via international cards, or through Cuba’s dollar-linked payment cards. The rapid expansion of dollarized commerce highlights the growing dependence on foreign currency in Cuba’s struggling economy.