Remittance corridor · World Bank RPW · 2025Q1
United States → South Africa
What it really costs to send money from United States to South Africa, with the cheapest provider on record and the gap to the UN's 3% target.
- 6.8%
- Average cost
- 1.9%
- Cheapest · WorldRemit
- 7
- Providers tracked
The verdict
At 6.8%, this corridor costs more than most, only 30% of tracked corridors are pricier, but the cheapest provider charges just 1.9% - switching saves about $9.84 on every $200 sent.
- 6.8%
- average cost of a $200 transfer
- +0.1pp
- vs the 6.7% average of 322 corridors
- +3.8pp
- gap to the UN 3% target
- $118/yr
- saved by switching to the cheapest, 12 transfers
Compared against the 322 corridors we actually track, not a generic headline figure.
How United States → South Africa compares
Average cost of a $200 transfer, percent, lower is cheaper
6.84% average - 3.8pp above target
Cost trend: United States → South Africa
Average and cheapest cost of a $200 transfer over time, percent
Sending Country
Receiving Country
Nearby Corridors from United States
United States is one of the most connected sending markets in our data, with 37 tracked outbound corridors. The 5 below span the widest cost range, from the cheapest to send anywhere from United States through to the most expensive.
| # | Destination | Avg cost | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 4.3% | 0.6% |
| 2 | Guatemala | 4.9% | 1.1% |
| 3 | Philippines | 4.9% | 1.1% |
| 4 | Mexico | 5.1% | 1.3% |
| 5 | China | 5.9% | 1.8% |
What the United States → South Africa Data Tells Us
Sending money from United States to South Africa currently costs an average of 6.84% of the transfer amount, according to World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) data as of 2025Q1. That is 0.1 percentage points above the 6.7% average of the 322 corridors we track, though still below the World Bank's reported global average of about 6.4%.
On the cheapest end of the market, WorldRemit delivers this corridor at 1.92% - the floor price a United States-based sender can realistically access today. The full panel includes 7 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 here have eased 0.80 percentage points over the tracked period, a real if modest gain for senders as competition increased.
Across the 38 quarters of World Bank RPW data on record for this corridor, the average cost has ranged from 5.3% to 10.4%, and 0 of those 38 quarters (0%) met the UN SDG 3% target outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to send money from United States to South Africa?
The average cost to send money from United States to South Africa is 6.84% of the transfer amount, based on World Bank RPW data as of 2025Q1. The cheapest available option is 1.92% via WorldRemit. 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 United States to South Africa?
Based on World Bank RPW data, the cheapest service for the United States to South Africa corridor charges 1.92% - currently WorldRemit. A total of 7 providers are tracked on this corridor. Always compare rates directly with providers before sending, as prices change frequently.
Is the United States to South Africa corridor meeting the UN SDG cost target?
Not yet. At 6.8%, this corridor sits 3.8 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.