Corridor Comparison
Side-by-side metrics for two remittance corridors · World Bank RPW data
| Metric | Saudi Arabia → Ethiopia | United States → Ethiopia |
|---|---|---|
| Corridor | Saudi Arabia → Ethiopia | United States → Ethiopia |
| Average cost | 5.50% | 5.80% |
| Cheapest cost | 2.20% | 2.50% |
| Cheapest provider | Western Union | WorldRemit |
| Providers tracked | 10 | 9 |
| Annual volume | $1.2B | $900M |
| Latest quarter | 2025Q1 | 2025Q1 |
What the Comparison Shows
The Saudi Arabia → Ethiopia corridor currently averages 5.50%, while the United States → Ethiopia corridor averages 5.80%. That makes the Saudi Arabia → Ethiopia corridor roughly 0.3 percentage points cheaper on average. Cheapest-provider floors tell a similar story: Western Union delivers Ethiopia at 2.20%, against WorldRemit on the Ethiopia route at 2.50%.
Comparing corridors is most useful when a sender is choosing between destinations where the recipient has multiple payout options, or when an employer evaluates payroll routes for remote staff. For personal transfers, the practical takeaway is the same on every corridor — shop the cheapest provider, account for both fees and FX margin, and prefer mobile-wallet or bank-deposit payouts where available.
Data source: Source: World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) Database, quarterly release. Costs represent percentage of a $200 transfer amount.
Methodology reference: Source: UN Sustainable Development Goal 10.c target — reduce remittance transaction costs to below 3% by 2030.