What It Costs to Send Money to Cuba from the US
In the 2024 Q3 World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide quarterly survey, sending USD 200 from the United States to Cuba carried a median total cost of 12.75% and an average total cost of 10.56% of the amount sent. Total cost, as defined by the survey methodology, combines the upfront transfer fee and the exchange-rate margin — the difference between the mid-market rate and the rate applied to the transaction — expressed together as a percentage of the USD 200 send amount.
Across the nine providers surveyed in that 2024 Q3 snapshot, quoted total costs ranged from a low of 5.50% to a high of 15.41%. Western Union was the cheapest surveyed provider in that specific quarterly data collection; because survey figures are captured at a point in time and provider pricing changes, that standing may not reflect current conditions.
Costs within this corridor can vary depending on the payment method chosen (such as bank account or debit card), the payout method available to the recipient, and the amount transferred, since fee structures are not always linear. The World Bank updates this survey each quarter, and the per-provider table below presents the dated 2024 Q3 survey quotes for individual reference.
Surveyed providers (2024 Q3)
| Provider | Type | Pay-out | Speed (surveyed) | Total cost, $200 | Total cost, $500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Union | MTO | Internet | 3-5 days | 5.50% | 3.00% |
| Western Union | MTO | Agent | Next day | 6.00% | 3.20% |
| Western Union | MTO | Internet | Next day | 6.00% | 3.20% |
| Western Union | MTO | Internet | Next day | 8.50% | 5.70% |
| Duales | MTO | Internet | 2 days | 12.75% | 10.65% |
| Duales | MTO | Internet | 2 days | 12.75% | 10.65% |
| Duales | MTO | Internet | 2 days | 12.75% | 10.65% |
| TropiPay | MTO | Internet | Next day | 15.41% | 12.22% |
| TropiPay | MTO | Internet | Same day | 15.41% | 12.22% |
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.