How does money cross a border?
An envelope grows lighter on its way.
Money sent home to family grows a little lighter each time it crosses a border. The fee, and the mark-up on the exchange rate: the cost of sending money around the world, and the goal for bringing it down.
In 30 seconds
- According to the World Bank, sending money across borders costs 6.36% of the amount sent on global average (third quarter of 2025).
- The cost varies by region: highest for transfers to sub-Saharan Africa at 8.46%, lowest for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan at 5.11%.
- The United Nations and the G20 aim to bring the global average to 3% by 2030, with every corridor at 5% or less.
A little over 6% of what you send.
On global average, 6.36% of the amount sent is lost to cost.
Global average cost of cross-border remittances (third quarter of 2025)
Measured by the World Bank on a $200 transfer.
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The global average
According to the World Bank’s Remittance Prices Worldwide, the global average cost of a remittance was 6.36% in the third quarter of 2025, down from 6.49% in the first quarter.[1]
Sending $200 costs about $12.70 on average (our calculation).
The cost comes in two parts.
A remittance costs a transfer fee plus a mark-up on the exchange rate.
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Fee and mark-up
The World Bank’s survey records the cost of a remittance in two parts: the transfer fee and the exchange-rate margin.[2] A low fee can still mean less arrives, if the rate carries a mark-up.
Where it goes changes the weight.
The cost differs widely by the region receiving the money.
Average cost of remittances to sub-Saharan Africa (third quarter of 2025)
The most expensive region. The cheapest is the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan at 5.11%.
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Regional differences
In the third quarter of 2025, sub-Saharan Africa was the most expensive receiving region at 8.46%, and the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region the cheapest at 5.11%.[1]
The goal is 3%.
The United Nations and the G20 have set a goal for lowering the cost of remittances.
Goal for the global average cost of remittances by 2030
Alongside it, every corridor should cost 5% or less.
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Two goals
The UN Sustainable Development Goals and the G20 aim to bring the global average cost of remittances to 3% by 2030 and to make every corridor available at 5% or less. The World Bank’s survey is used as the yardstick for measuring progress.[2]
A scale for reading what comes next.
A scale for reading the cost of remittances.
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The global average
How close 6.36% comes to the 3% goal.[1][2]
Regional differences
Whether the gap between the most and least expensive regions narrows.[1]
Fee and mark-up
Whether both the fee and the exchange-rate mark-up are shown when you send.[2]
This is not advice
This edition explains the cost of remittances. It does not recommend any money transfer company.
Next question
NEXT QUESTIONOne question at the till.NEXT QUESTIONThe narrow gap between the buying and selling price.See the Field Notes shelf →What this edition cannot tell you
- The cost at individual money transfer companies. It changes by company, corridor and time, so this edition does not cover it.
- Detailed breakdowns by receiving region.