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Do you have any idea how much a money transfer to Kenya is going to cost you?
If you’re working with a freelancer or a team of workers in Kenya and want to transfer money, you have to be prepared for all the charges and fees that come with money transfers.
Time Doctor is a time management tool that attracts professionals from all parts of the world that work with remote teams. Many of these professionals are in need of a cost-efficient and practical international money transfer solution.
What transfer methods do we use at Time Doctor?
We have a remote team with people in 19 different countries around the world. The two transfer methods we use the most are:
- Payoneer – very convenient for sending and receiving. They are also one of the few methods that works to receive money in almost every country and the receiver can get their money on a debit card and withdraw from an ATM. They also have an option for direct transfer to the receiver’s bank account. They also have a $50 bonus if you receive more than $100 through this method.
- Wise (formerly Transferwise) – very low cost and also a convenient method for transfers to most countries.
The following tables include information about the cheapest methods to send money to Kenya if you’re located in the US, Canada, Australia or Europe.
| Table 1: Sending $1000 from the US to Kenya | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer method | Fees to send $1000 USD | Hidden currency conversion cost | Total fees | Time for the transfer to arrive |
| XE Trade | $0 | $9 | $9 | 3-5 days |
| Ria Money Transfer (slow) | $5 | $16 | $21 | 3-5 days |
| Payoneer | $3 | $25 | $28 | 3-5 days |
| Ria Money Transfer (fast) | $15 | $16 | $31 | In Minutes |
| Xpress Money | $15 | $22 | $37 | 3-5 days |
| MoneyGram (slow) | $5 | $33 | $38 | 4-6 days |
| Poapay | $15 | $28 | $43 | 3-5 days |
| WorldRemit | $14 | $30 | $44 | 1-3 days |
| Western Union (slow) | $5 | $46 | $51 | 4-6 days |
| MoneyGram (fast) | $20 | $33 | $53 | In Minutes |
| Wire transfer | $25-40 | $10-20 | $35-60 | 3-5 days |
| Western Union (fast) | $20 | $46 | $66 | In Minutes |
| Transfast | $5 | $64 | $69 | 1-3 days |
| Skrill | $50 | $19 | $69 | 3-5 days |
| Travelex | $0 | $150 | $150 | 3-5 days |
| NationHela | $35 | $159 | $194 | In Minutes |
Note:
- Worldremit allows to send money transfer to selected countries from the following states of USA: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
- NationHela will only allow Debit/Credit Card Transfer if from the US. This method of transfer is subject to a limit of 500 USD per transaction. For sending 1000 USD, we calculated the fees for sending 500 USD and doubled it.
| Table 2: Sending £1000 from the UK to Kenya | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer method | Fees to send £1000 GBP | Hidden currency conversion cost | Total fees | Time for the transfer to arrive |
| XE Trade | £0 | £11 | £11 | 3-5 days |
| Western Union (fast) | £3 | £10 | £13 | In Minutes |
| EasyPesa | £4 | £20 | £24 | 1-3 days |
| Equity Direct | £4 | £20 | £24 | 1-3 days |
| WorldRemit | £6 | £21 | £27 | 1-3 days |
| Exchange4free | £0 | £29 | £29 | 1-2 days |
| SimbaPay | £0 | £36 | £36 | In Minutes |
| Small World FS | £3 | £35 | £38 | 1-3 days |
| MoneyGram (fast) | £20 | £28 | £48 | In Minutes |
| Azimo | £1 | £47 | £48 | 1-3 days |
| Xpress Money | £30 | £22 | £52 | 3-5 days |
| Wire transfer | £15-25 | £10-30 | £25-55 | 3-5 days |
| Afrikmostra | £26 | £35 | £61 | In Minutes |
| Dahabshiil* | £55 | £10 | £65 | In Minutes |
| Skrill | £50 | £21 | £71 | 3-5 days |
| Travelex | £0 | £74 | £74 | 3-5 days |
| Mukuru | £22 | £75 | £97 | In Minutes |
| NationHela | £5.5 | £116 | £121.5 | 1-3 days |
Note:
- Dahabshiil payout option is in USD. Recipient may convert his amount into KES through any agent which takes little more charges for currency exchange.
| Table 3: Sending $1000 from the Canada to Kenya | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer method | Fees to send $1000 CAD | Hidden currency conversion cost | Total fees | Time for the transfer to arrive |
| XE Trade | $0 | $11 | $11 | 3-5 days |
| Exchange4free | $0 | $30 | $30 | 3-5 days |
| WorldRemit* | $18 | $24 | $42 | 1-3 days |
| ZOOMPesa* | $20 | $22 | $42 | 3-5 days |
| Xpress Money | $16 | $28 | $44 | 3-5 days |
| Transfast | $5 | $65 | $70 | 1-3 days |
| Skrill | $50 | $24 | $74 | 3-5 days |
| Wire transfer | $25-40 | $20-30 | $45-75 | 3-5 days |
| MoneyGram (fast) | $50 | $26 | $76 | In Minutes |
| Western Union (fast) | $40 | $43 | $83 | In Minutes |
| Travelex | $0 | $145 | $145 | 3-5 days |
Note:
- Worldremit can only send 995 CAD from Canada to Mexico.
- Zoompesa has a Maximum Daily Limit of 906 CAD.
| Table 4: Sending €1000 from the Western Europe to the Kenya | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer method | Fees to send €1000 EUR | Hidden currency conversion cost | Total fees | Time for the transfer to arrive |
| XE Trade | €0 | €1 | €1 | 3-5 days |
| NationHela | €6.6 | €1 | €7.6 | 1-3 days |
| Exchange4free | €0 | €30 | €30 | 3-5 days |
| MoneyGram (fast) | €10 | €23 | €33 | In Minutes |
| Azimo | €1 | €34 | €35 | 1-3 days |
| Small World FS | €0 | €51 | €51 | 3-5 days |
| Western Union | €25 | €27 | €52 | 1-2 days |
| WorldRemit | €22 | €30 | €52 | 1-3 days |
| Xpress Money | €25 | €34 | €59 | 3-5 days |
| Skrill | €50 | €20 | €70 | 3-5 days |
| Wire transfer | €20-35 | €20-40 | €40-75 | 3-5 days |
| Table 5: Sending $1000 from the Australia to Kenya | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer method | Fees to send $1000 AUD | Hidden currency conversion cost | Total fees | Time for the transfer to arrive |
| XE Trade | $0 | $14 | $14 | 3-5 days |
| Mhits* | $22 | $2 | $24 | In Minutes |
| Exchange4free | $0 | $30 | $30 | 3-5 days |
| Worldremit | $14 | $31 | $45 | 1-3 days |
| Xpress Money | $25 | $21 | $46 | 3-5 days |
| Western Union (fast) | $40 | $27 | $67 | In Minutes |
| MoneyGram (fast) | $35 | $34 | $69 | In Minutes |
| Skrill | $60 | $27 | $87 | 3-5 days |
| Wire transfer | $25-35 | $30-60 | $55-95 | 3-5 days |
Note:
- Mhits transfers $500 at one single time. The calculation has been done for two times transfers which equals to $1000.
Rob Rawson is a co-founder of Time Doctor which is software to improve work productivity and help keep track of what your team is working on, even when working remotely.