What’s the Cheapest Method to Send Money to Thailand?

What’s the Cheapest Method to Send Money to Thailand

What will happen if you wire $1000 USD from San Francisco to a relative in Thailand? How much will you get charged?

  1. If you use Travelex, you will lose $123 due to massive hidden conversion rates, the biggest loss despite having 0 upfront charge.
  2. Using banks will generally cost around $25 to $40, with $10 to $20 hidden exchange rates, which is still not good.
  3. While Wise (formerly TransferWise) has an upfront cost, it has transparent fees and doesn’t have a hidden conversion rate –which makes it the cheapest option! Also, Wise, formerly TransferWise is up to 8x cheaper than banks.

These numbers speak for themselves. So take note, always check the hidden conversion rates and not the upfront fee. Some banks and online money transfer service entice people by offering zero service charge, yet they more than make up the cost by using ridiculous hidden exchange rates.

Below are tables that contain the most popular options for sending money to Thailand, their upfront rates and their hidden exchange rates. Also, this our 28th post on sending money to other countries. If you want to check out the rest of the post, here are the links: Philippines, Brazil, Australia, Kenya, Mexico, Macedonia, Poland, Egypt, Romania, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Bolivia, Serbia, Pakistan, Colombia, Morocco, Chile and Turkey.

Table 1: Sending $1000 from the US to Thailand
Transfer method Fees to send $1000 USD Hidden conversion cost Total fees Time for the transfer to arrive
OFX (previously USForex)* $0 $7.5 $7.5 1-2 days
CurrencyFair* $4 $5.5 $9.5 1-2 days
Wise, formerly TransferWise (recommended partner) $15 $0 $15 1-2 days
Ria Money Transfer (slow) $5 $23 $28 3-5 days
1st Contact Forex $10 $19 $29 1-3 days
WorldRemit $5 $25 $30 1-3 days
Xpress Money $17 $20 $37 3-5 days
Ria Money Transfer (fast) $15 $23 $38 Minutes
Skrill $10 $40 $50 3-5 days
MoneyGram (slow) $5 $51 $56 1-3 days
Western Union (slow) $5 $53 $58 1-3 days
Wire transfer $25-40 $10-20 $35-60 3-5 days
Western Union (fast) $10 $53 $63 Minutes
MoneyGram (fast) $20 $51 $71 Minutes
Travelex $0 $123 $123 3-5 days

Note:

  • Minimum transfer of $500 for OFX (previously USForex).
  • New CurrencyFair customers get 10 free transfers.

Table 2: Sending £1000 from the UK to Thailand
Transfer method Fees to send £1000 GBP Hidden conversion cost Total fees Time for the transfer to arrive
CurrencyFair* £4 £3 £7 1-2 days
OFX* £0 £7.5 £7.5 1-2 days
Wise, formerly TransferWise (recommended partner) £15 £0 £15 1-2 days
Azimo £1 £20 £21 1-3 days
WorldRemit £4 £23 £27 1-3 days
Western Union £15 £16 £31 Minutes
1st Contact Forex £15 £17 £32 1-3 days
Exchange4free £0 £37 £37 3-5 days
Skrill £8 £40 £48 3-5 days
Xpress Money £30 £23 £53 3-5 days
Wire transfer £15-25 £10-30 £25-55 3-5 days
Travelex £0 £61 £61 3-5 days
MoneyGram £27 £43 £70 Minutes

Note:

  • Minimum transfer of £500 for OFX.
  • New CurrencyFair customers get 10 free transfers.

Table 3: Sending $1000 from the Canada to Thailand
Transfer method Fees to send $1000 CAD Hidden conversion cost Total fees Time for the transfer to arrive
OFX* $0 $7.5 $7.5 1-2 days
CurrencyFair* $4 $5 $9 1-2 days
Wise, formerly TransferWise (recommended partner) $15 $0 $15 1-2 days
WorldRemit* $5 $27 $32 1-3 days
Xpress Money $16 $21 $37 3-5 days
1st Contact Forex 15 $23 $38 1-3 days
Exchange4free $0 $40 $40 3-5 days
Skrill $29 $40 $69 3-5 days
Western Union $30 $42 $72 Minutes
Wire transfer $25-40 $20-30 $45-75 3-5 days
MoneyGram $50 $44 $94 Minutes
Travelex $0 $127 $127 3-5 days

Note:

  • Worldremit can only send 995 CAD from Canada to Thailand.
  • Minimum transfer of $500 for OFX.
  • New CurrencyFair customers get 10 free transfers.

Table 4: Sending €1000 from the Western Europe (Euro currency countries such as Germany, France, Italy) to the Thailand
Transfer method Fees to send $1000 CAD Hidden conversion cost Total fees Time for the transfer to arrive
OFX* €0 €7.5 €7.5 1-2 days
CurrencyFair* €4 €4 €8 1-2 days
Wise, formerly TransferWise (recommended partner) €15 €0 €15 1-2 days
1st Contact Forex €5 €19 €24 1-3 days
WorldRemit €5 €24 €29 1-3 days
Azimo €3 €31 €34 1-3 days
Western Union €5 €30 €35 1-2 days
Exchange4free €0 €40 €40 3-5 days
MoneyGram €10 €39 €49 Minutes
Skrill €10 €40 €50 3-5 days
Xpress Money €28 €25 €53 3-5 days
Wire transfer €20-35 €20-40 €40-75 3-5 days
Travelex €0 €101 €101 3-5 days

Note:

  • Minimum transfer of €500 for OFX.
  • New CurrencyFair customers get 10 free transfers.

Table 5: Sending $1000 from the Australia to Thailand
Transfer method Fees to send $1000 AUD Hidden conversion cost Total fees Time for the transfer to arrive
OFX (previously OzForex)* $0 $7.5 $7.5 1-2 days
CurrencyFair* $4 $5 $9 1-2 days
Wise, formerly TransferWise (recommended partner) $15 $0 $15 1-2 days
WorldRemit $5 $24 $29 1-3 days
1st Contact Forex $15 $18 $33 1-3 days
Exchange4free $0 $40 $40 3-5 days
Western Union (slow) $10 $39 $49 4 days
Skrill $10 $40 $50 3-5 days
Fast Remit $10 $59 $69 2-3 days
MoneyGram $35 $42 $77 Minutes
Travelex $0 $80 $80 3-5 days
Xpress Money $60 $32 $92 3-5 days
Wire transfer $25-35 $30-60 $55-95 3-5 days
Western Union (fast) $70 $44 $114 Minutes

Note:

  • Minimum transfer of $500 for OFX (previously OzForex).
  • New CurrencyFair customers get 10 free transfers.

 
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Leave a reply

  • Timothy Marshall

    It cost me $9.99 to transfer $1,000 from Houston Texas to anywhere in Thailand using Western Union. I've been sending money to my wife and daughter in Thailand for the last 4 years the first two years it was $50
    UpVote Reply 0 Upvotes

    • Timothy Marshall

      And the money is there in minutes
      UpVote Reply 0 Upvotes

  • Valter Fernandes

    Hello, Your values work well if its only 1,000 USD. I want to transfer 10,000 EURO and the value become much more expensive then transfering by bank (even counting hidden fees).
    UpVote Reply 0 Upvotes

  • David

    You missed the most obvious most talked about most popular option out there today. Bitcoin or any of the cryptocurrencies are FAAAAR more cost-efficient than any 'Bankster' product out there.
    UpVote Reply 2 Upvotes

  • Mark

    I have always used Western Union using my bank or credit day and takes 4 days. Cost 2.90 GBP and todays exchange rate is 42.55 THB UKForex exchange rate today is 43.78 (so based on sending 100GBP then 123 Baht difference), Unless you need money to happen instantly (WU is 12.90 GBP) found this a reasonalble way of sending money to family and friends. Table above looks to be out of touch with todays rates.
    UpVote Reply 2 Upvotes

  • Jennifer

    We have had success using a prepaid credit card to get the best value. CaxtonFX is the one we've been using as it has no atm fee and good exchange rates.
    UpVote Reply 0 Upvotes

  • Rien

    Check out Xendpay You can choose the amount of the fees you are willing to pay and the exchange rate is pretty close to mid-market rate.
    UpVote Reply 0 Upvotes
3 More Comments