Western Union fees fees in 2026

What moves the price

• How the sender pays matters most, since a bank account costs far less than a credit card.
• The country the money goes to changes both the fee and the exchange markup.
• The amount sent changes the fee and the cost of the markup.
• How the receiver gets the money matters, and bank deposit usually costs less than cash pickup.
• Promotions can cut the transfer fee to $0 for some routes for a short time.
• Where you live. Prices in big cities usually run higher than in small towns.

What is included

The range is per $1,000 sent online (fee plus exchange markup). The quote shows the transfer fee and the exchange rate before the sender confirms. The markup on the exchange rate is not listed as a fee but is often the biggest cost. Credit card funding and cash pickup can add extra cost.

Western Union cost by amount sent (bank account to bank account)

Average prices in US dollars. Source: TransferFees.io.

Transfer fee by how the sender pays (on $1,000)

Average prices in US dollars. Source: TransferFees.io.

Ways to pay less

• Paying from a bank account usually costs the least.
• Avoiding credit card funding can save $30 or more on a $1,000 transfer.
• Choosing a bank deposit or mobile wallet for the receiver is usually cheaper than cash pickup.
• Comparing the exchange rate to the mid market rate shows the true cost.

What price guides say

We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.

• TransferFees.io: Western Union Fee Calculator
• ThePricer: Cost to Send Money with Western Union
• Finder: Western Union vs bank transfer

Common questions

Related costs