Sending money across borders — what does each channel typically cost? Illustrative math anchored on World Bank channel averages. No scare tactics, sources below.
⚠️ Illustrative, not a quote and not financial advice. The World Bank averages are measured on USD 200 transfers; percentage costs typically fall as amounts grow, so treat these as an upper-bound illustration. Fees vary by corridor, provider and payment method — always check the provider's live price.
What providers say about their own pricing
"We only use the live mid-market rate, and a small, upfront fee to cover our costs."Wise — official pricing page (verified quote, 2026-06-12)
PayPal applies a currency-conversion spread of about 4% (personal payments) or about 3% (other cases) on top of a wholesale rate.PayPal — official help pages (verified, 2026-06-12)
Traditional bank transfers typically add a 2–4% exchange-rate markup plus wire and intermediary fees.secondary estimate (Exiap / Wise blog) — use the World Bank channel averages above as the authoritative figure