Remittance corridor · World Bank RPW · 2021Q4
Russia → Ukraine
What it really costs to send money from Russia to Ukraine, with the cheapest provider on record and the gap to the UN's 3% target.
- 4.3%
- Average cost
- 1.6%
- Cheapest · Paysend
- 2
- Providers tracked
The verdict
At 4.3%, this is one of the more affordable corridors we track, cheaper than 70% of them, but the cheapest provider charges just 1.6% - switching saves about $5.32 on every $200 sent.
- 4.3%
- average cost of a $200 transfer
- -2.4pp
- vs the 6.7% average of 322 corridors
- +1.3pp
- gap to the UN 3% target
- $64/yr
- saved by switching to the cheapest, 12 transfers
Compared against the 322 corridors we actually track, not a generic headline figure.
How Russia → Ukraine compares
Average cost of a $200 transfer, percent, lower is cheaper
4.30% average - 1.3pp above target
Cost trend: Russia → Ukraine
Average and cheapest cost of a $200 transfer over time, percent
Sending Country
Receiving Country
Nearby Corridors from Russia
Russia sends through 8 corridors we track. Comparing them against the Russia → Ukraine route shows whether this destination is cheap or expensive relative to that country's other outbound options.
| # | Destination | Avg cost | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| 2 | Kazakhstan | 1.5% | 0.9% |
| 3 | Moldova | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 1.8% | 1.0% |
| 5 | Armenia | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| 6 | Georgia | 1.9% | 0.9% |
| 7 | Tajikistan | 2.1% | 0.9% |
| 8 | Uzbekistan | 2.6% | 1.3% |
What the Russia → Ukraine Data Tells Us
Sending money from Russia to Ukraine currently costs an average of 4.30% of the transfer amount, according to World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) data as of 2021Q4. That is 2.4 percentage points below the 6.7% average of the 322 corridors we track, and well under the World Bank's reported global average of about 6.4% - a relatively affordable route.
On the cheapest end of the market, Paysend delivers this corridor at 1.64% - the floor price a Russia-based sender can realistically access today. The full panel includes 2 tracked providers.
Annual corridor volume is not separately reported for this route in the current release, but reducing transfer costs on any route translates directly into more money reaching recipient households. Costs on this route have risen sharply, up 3.30 percentage points over the tracked period, a notable outlier since most tracked corridors have moved the other way.
Across the 40 quarters of World Bank RPW data on record for this corridor, the average cost has ranged from 1.0% to 4.3%, and 37 of those 40 quarters (93%) met the UN SDG 3% target outright. Quarter-to-quarter pricing has moved moderately (0.73pp standard deviation across the full record).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to send money from Russia to Ukraine?
The average cost to send money from Russia to Ukraine is 4.30% of the transfer amount, based on World Bank RPW data as of 2021Q4. The cheapest available option is 1.64% via Paysend. Costs are calculated as a percentage of a $200 transfer and include both service fees and exchange rate margins.
What is the cheapest way to send money from Russia to Ukraine?
Based on World Bank RPW data, the cheapest service for the Russia to Ukraine corridor charges 1.64% - currently Paysend. A total of 2 providers are tracked on this corridor. Always compare rates directly with providers before sending, as prices change frequently.
Is the Russia to Ukraine corridor meeting the UN SDG cost target?
Not yet. At 4.3%, this corridor sits 1.3 percentage points above the UN SDG 10.c target of 3% or below by 2030.
Source: World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) Database (2011-2025) World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) Database (2011-2025)
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRemit is rendered directly from World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.