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Remittance Cost Comparison

See how much you can save by sending money abroad with USDC instead of traditional remittance services. Compare fees, exchange rate costs, and delivery times side by side.

$
Cheapest
Base
< $0.01 total
Fastest
Base
< 1 minute
Your Savings
$14.99
vs Western Union
1
USDC on BaseCheapest99.9% less vs WU
< 1 minuteFee < $0.01 + $0 FX *
< $0.01
Receives $200.00
2
USDC on Solana99.9% less vs WU
< 1 minuteFee < $0.01 + $0 FX *
< $0.01
Receives $200.00
3
WU
Western Union
1-3 daysFee $10.00 + $5.00 FX
$15.00
Receives $185.00
4
Bank Wire
3-5 business daysFee $35.00 + $3.00 FX
$38.00
Receives $162.00

* USDC has no exchange rate markup on the send. Recipient may incur conversion costs when exchanging to PHP locally.

You save $14.99 sending to Philippines with USDC on Base instead of Western Union.

Important things to know

  • Local conversion costs: The USDC transfer itself is nearly free, but the recipient may need to convert USDC to PHP through a local exchange or P2P platform. That conversion has its own fees, typically 0.5-2% depending on the country and platform.
  • Last-mile delivery: Western Union and banks offer cash pickup and direct bank deposit. USDC requires the recipient to have a crypto wallet. There is no cash pickup option.
  • Estimates, not quotes: Traditional remittance fees vary by payment method, delivery speed, and the specific provider's rates on any given day. The figures above are realistic estimates for typical transfers.

Disclaimer: Fee estimates are approximate and based on publicly available data from remittance providers. Actual costs may vary based on payment method, delivery option, and market conditions. This tool is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Learn more

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Step-by-step guide to sending USDC safely on any network.

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Get started with USDC from Coinbase, exchanges, or fintech apps.

USDC fee calculator

Compare USDC transfer fees across Ethereum, Base, Solana, and more.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to send money with USDC?

Sending USDC on networks like Base or Solana costs less than $0.01 in network fees, regardless of the amount you send. This is dramatically cheaper than traditional services that charge $8 to $50 per transfer plus exchange rate markups of 2-4%.

Is USDC cheaper than Western Union for remittances?

The transfer itself is nearly free. However, the recipient may need to convert USDC to local currency through a local crypto exchange, which has its own fees (typically 0.5-2%). Even with conversion costs factored in, USDC transfers are usually much cheaper, especially for amounts above $100.

How fast is sending money with USDC compared to a bank wire?

USDC transfers on Base and Solana settle in under a minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bank wires typically take 3-5 business days for international transfers and only process during banking hours. Western Union can take 1-3 days depending on the destination and delivery method.

Can the recipient convert USDC to local currency?

Yes. The recipient can sell USDC for local currency on crypto exchanges available in their country, through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance P2P, or in some regions through local payment apps that support stablecoins. The options and fees vary by country, but the ecosystem is growing rapidly in top remittance destinations.

What does the recipient need to receive USDC?

The recipient needs a crypto wallet that supports USDC on the same network you send it on. For Base, wallets like Coinbase Wallet or MetaMask work. For Solana, Phantom or Solflare are popular choices. Unlike Western Union, there is no cash pickup option. Both sender and recipient need a basic setup first, but once that's done, transfers are instant and nearly free.