Send money from the United States to Kenya (USD to KES)
Compare today's live USD → KES exchange rates and fees across every major provider. We show the hidden markup baked into each quote, so you can find the cheapest way to send money from the United States to Kenya — to M-Pesa or a bank account.
Quick answer: the cheapest way to send USD to KES (Kenya) right now is NALA, about 128.41 KES per $1 with no transfer fee, ranked by how much actually arrives in KES, not by the headline fee.
Mid-market rate: 129.5388 KES per 1 USD· updated Jun 28, 2026, 1:27 PM UTC
USD to KES comparison — sending $500
Ranked by how much actually arrives, grouped by how your recipient gets paid. Mobile money is how most people receive money in Kenya.
The best-value way to send money to Kenya right now is NALA: send $500 and your recipient gets 64,206.42 KES — an effective 128.41 KES per $1, with no transfer fee. Updated Jun 28, 2026, 1:27 PM UTC.
Mobile money payouts
Most used in KenyaPay out to mobile wallets in Kenya, usually within minutes.
First-transfer bonuses
New customersPromotional first-transfer rates, for new customers only.
Bank payouts
Direct deposit to a bank account in Kenya.
Rates are indicative and last updated Jun 28, 2026, 1:27 PM UTC. Fees assume the cheapest standard bank funding; some providers add a small pay-in fee that varies by how you pay. First-transfer bonuses apply to new customers' first send only. Always verify the final exchange rate on the provider's payment page before making a transfer. See our methodology and advertiser disclosure.
Sending money from the United States to Kenya
In Kenya, mobile money dominates: M-Pesa is used by the large majority of adults, so most recipients prefer a mobile-wallet payout that arrives in minutes over a bank deposit.
Bank transfers to Kenyan accounts are well supported too, but for everyday remittances M-Pesa is usually faster and more convenient for the person receiving the money.
When you send US Dollar (USD) to Kenya, most of the cost is the exchange-rate markup baked into the rate, not the upfront fee. RemitBeat compares the live USD → KES rate across Wise, Remitly, Sendwave, WorldRemit, Western Union and more, benchmarks each against the mid-market rate, and ranks them by the amount that actually arrives in KES — so you can see the genuinely cheapest option rather than the one with the flashiest headline fee.
Sending money USD to KES — your questions
What is the best rate to send money from the United States to Kenya today?+
What is the mid-market USD/KES exchange rate right now?+
What is a hidden markup, and how much does it cost me?+
How can I receive USD transfers in Kenya?+
How does RemitBeat make money if comparison is free?+
Compare more money-transfer corridors
Live exchange-rate and fee comparisons across Wise, Remitly, Sendwave, WorldRemit and more — pick your route below to find the cheapest way to send money home.