What It Costs to Send Money to Somalia from the US
In the 2024 Q3 World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide quarterly survey, sending USD 200 from the United States to Somalia carried a median total cost of 6.00% and an average total cost of 5.85% of the amount sent. Total cost in this survey combines the transfer fee charged by the provider and the exchange-rate margin applied to the transaction, both expressed together as a percentage of the USD 200 send amount.
Across the five providers surveyed in that 2024 Q3 snapshot, total costs ranged from a low of 5.25% to a high of 6.00%. The provider recording the cheapest surveyed total cost of 5.25% in the 2024 Q3 survey was Western Union. Because survey data reflects prices collected at a specific point in time, actual pricing from any provider may have changed since that survey period.
Costs within this corridor can vary depending on the payment method used, the payout method available to the recipient, and the amount being transferred, so figures at a different send amount may differ from those shown here. The World Bank updates this survey quarterly. The per-provider table below presents the individual figures drawn directly from the 2024 Q3 survey data and should be read as dated quotes rather than current live prices.
Surveyed providers (2024 Q3)
| Provider | Type | Pay-out | Speed (surveyed) | Total cost, $200 | Total cost, $500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Union | MTO | Agent | Less than one hour | 5.25% | 2.10% |
| Dahabshiil | MTO | Agent | Same day | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Kaah Express | MTO | Agent | Less than one hour | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Tawakal Express | MTO | Agent | Same day | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Iftin Express | MTO | Agent | Same day | 6.00% | 6.00% |
Total cost = transfer fee + exchange-rate margin, as a percent of the amount sent, at the two surveyed send amounts ($200 / $500). Surveyed prices, not live quotes.
Estimate your transfer cost →Source: The World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide, available at http://remittanceprices.worldbank.org (CC BY 4.0). Figures are from the 2024 Q3 survey — surveyed prices, not live quotes.