Send Money From Kenya
9 destination corridors · World Bank RPW · KE
Cheapest Corridors from Kenya
Largest Flows from Kenya
Nearby Destinations from Kenya
Top outbound corridors from Kenya by annual remittance flow — the most active peer routes on the same sending market.
All Corridors from Kenya
| To | Avg Cost |
|---|---|
| Tanzania | 4.00% |
| Uganda | 4.20% |
| Rwanda | 5.26% |
| South Sudan | 5.26% |
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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. Always verify current rates directly with service providers before sending money.
Sending Money From Kenya: What the Data Shows
The World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide database currently tracks 9 outbound corridors from Kenya, with an average transfer cost of 5.26% across the full panel. That sits 1.1 percentage points below the global average of 6.4%, which makes Kenya one of the more competitive sending markets tracked by the RPW.
The three cheapest corridors from Kenya right now are Tanzania at 1.40% via M-Pesa, Uganda at 1.50% via M-Pesa. These floor prices — the lowest available rate any tracked provider quotes on a $200 transfer — are the benchmark a price-conscious sender should aim for before paying a bank, cash agent, or in-app default. Corridor-level shopping matters here: on any single destination, the gap between the cheapest and the average often equals the cost of groceries or school fees back home, which is why the RPW methodology — standardized at $200 and inclusive of both service fee and FX margin — is designed to make these spreads visible.
By dollar volume, the largest outbound flows from Kenya run to Tanzania ($600M/yr), Uganda ($400M/yr). High-volume corridors are disproportionately important for SDG 10.c — the UN target of reducing average remittance cost to 3% or below by 2030 — because even a modest percentage-point reduction on a billion-dollar corridor returns tens of millions of dollars to recipient households. Historically, corridors that have fallen fastest toward the 3% target are those where digital-first fintechs compete on price against legacy money-transfer operators and bank wires. For a sender in Kenya, the practical takeaway is straightforward: compare the cheapest provider on your specific corridor, account for both fees and exchange-rate margin, and use bank-deposit or mobile-wallet payout wherever the recipient supports it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cheapest countries to send money to from Kenya?
Based on World Bank RPW data, the cheapest remittance destinations from Kenya are determined by the lowest transfer cost as a percentage of a $200 transfer. Currently, the most affordable corridors include transfers to Tanzania, Uganda, with costs as low as 1.40%. Costs reflect both fees and exchange rate margins.
How do I compare money transfer services?
To compare money transfer services from Kenya, look at three factors: (1) total cost as a percentage of your transfer amount — including both the service fee and exchange rate margin, (2) delivery speed, and (3) payment and payout methods available in your destination country. World Bank RPW data, used here, standardizes costs as a percentage of a $200 transfer, making services comparable across corridors. Always verify current rates directly with providers before sending.
What affects the cost of sending money internationally?
International transfer costs from Kenya depend on several factors: the destination country (some corridors have more competition and lower fees), the transfer amount (larger amounts often have lower percentage fees), the payment method (bank accounts are typically cheaper than cash), and the payout method at the destination. The average outbound transfer cost from Kenya is 5.26%, compared to the global average of approximately 6.4%.
How much money does Kenya send in remittances each year?
Kenya sends remittances to 9 tracked destination countries, with an average outbound transfer cost of 5.26%, according to World Bank RPW data. Remittance outflows are driven by diaspora communities supporting family members abroad.
Are digital money transfer services cheaper than banks?
In most corridors from Kenya, digital-first providers (fintechs and mobile apps) offer significantly lower fees than traditional bank wire transfers. Banks typically charge 10-15% for small transfers due to fixed fees and wide exchange rate margins, while digital providers often charge 1-4%. The World Bank RPW data used on PlainRemit tracks both traditional and digital providers so you can compare directly.
Source: World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) Database (2011-2024) World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) Database (2011-2024)
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.