How to send money to South Africa from Ethiopia with the best ETB-ZAR rate

Find the best deals when you transfer from Ethiopia to South Africa. Get insights on the fastest, cheapest, and providers with the best ETB to ZAR exchange rates.

Read on to get the best value, expert information, and analysis on ways to send money to South Africa from Ethiopia.

Transferring the other way? Send ZAR from South Africa to Ethiopia instead.
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November 13th, 2025

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Best money transfer companies

Send money from Ethiopia to South Africa

Last updated: Today
Mid-market rate as of 11/13/2025: 1 ETB = 0.111232 ZAR
Results below are based on a 39000 ETB search
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0 of 3 providers
Send cash via a Western Union agent
1
Western Union Agent
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,120.83
Full transfer details

"Western Union agents help you send money from a wide variety of countries. Find a local branch near you to deposit cash and send your funds abroad."

7.7
Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account or debit card
Cash pickup
Send cash via a MoneyGram agent
2
MoneyGram Agent
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,120.83
Full transfer details

"With MoneyGram you can send money globally. Find a local MoneyGram branch near you to deposit and send cash abroad."

7.5
Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account or debit card
Cash pickup
Send Money Between PayPal Accounts
3
PayPal App
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,077.35
Full transfer details

"If you and the person you are sending money to both have PayPal apps, you can quickly and easily send money between each other."

5.4
Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account or debit card
P2P transfer
Mid-market rate updates every 60 minutes

Alternative for Ethiopia to South Africa

While you can’t send ETB to ZAR with Wise, you can transfer USD to USD.

"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."

Transfer Speed
Minutes - 24 hours
Exchange Rate Markup
0%
Fees
0.1% - 2.6%
How effectively does your finance team manage international cash flow?

In our experience, there are always efficiencies to be made in how businesses manage international payments in and out.

Why not take our free FX health check test to see how effective your business is in managing these. It only takes a couple of minutes.

The best way to send money from Ethiopia to South Africa is using PayPal P2P transfer service.

With P2P transfers, if you and your recipient both have the PayPal app, you can send money between them.

You will initiate the transfer in ETB and your recipient will receive the ZAR into their PayPal account.

The downside of this, is that PayPal charges higher fees and the withdrawal options can be limited depending.

Screenshot

Compare for the best deal on your Ethiopia to South Africa transfer

Summary of recent searches

Top rated for transfers from Ethiopia to South Africa
Western Union Agent
Total number of ET - ZA providers
3
Average cheapest fees & rate
Western Union Agent
Average fastest transfer
PayPal App
Average transfer time
Within minutes
Best for bank transfers
Western Union Agent
Best for debit card
PayPal App
Best for credit card
PayPal App

Transfer consider from Ethiopia to South Africa

1

Compare available providers

A comparison of providers offering services between Ethiopia and South Africa is paramount. Based on your specific transfer amount, the best way to send money to South Africa could change. Comparing ensures the best price for your needs.

For services allowing you to send Ethiopian Birr to South Africa we've compared 3 providers.

This coverage of the market ensure you will get the best options for your transfer to South Africa from Ethiopia.

Overall, we rated Western Union Agent as the best, but remember comparing for your specific transfer gives you a comprehensive view of all the options for transferring money from Ethiopia to South Africa.

2

Getting the best Ethiopian Birr-Rand exchange rate

3

Choose the right payment method

4

Financial regulators

5

Consider transfer limits

6

Consider how the money will be received

7

Have your ID ready

8

Tax declarations in South Africa

The cheapest way to send money to South Africa from Ethiopia is using Western Union cash transfer service.

While online transfers are usually cheaper, there are very few providers offering ETB to ZAR transfers, making cash transfer through a Western Union Agent the most practical and affordable option available.

The overall cost of your transfer includes both the transfer fee (around 3 ETB per 39,000 ETB) and the exchange rate markup applied by Western Union.

These costs can vary depending on the branch location, payment method, and the amount you’re sending, so it’s always worth checking with your branch before making a transfer.

Fastest way to send money to South Africa from Ethiopia : MoneyGram cash pickup

When speed is your priority, the quickest way to transfer money from Ethiopia to South Africa is through a MoneyGram cash transfer.

In most cases, funds are available for pickup within minutes, allowing your recipient to collect ZAR almost instantly. Sometimes it can take a day or two, depending on the deposit method, branch, and the amount.

Given the limited online options for ETB to ZAR transfers, using MoneyGram’s cash pickup service remains the fastest and most dependable choice.

Need to make a large transfer?

For big transfers between Ethiopia and South Africa, competitive pricing & strong customer service are key.

Western Union Agent is the best option for large transfers of the
3 providers compared.

While Western Union Agent may not always be the cheapest or fastest way to send ETB from Ethiopia to South Africa, it's a great provider for larger transfers for things like buying or selling property.

Understanding the cost of moving money from Ethiopia to South Africa

The total cost of sending money to South Africa from Ethiopia, is made-up of a combination of fees and exchange rates. Sending with a company that can offer a good deal on both ensures a good deal on your transfer.

The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: Currently, the mid-market for ETB-ZAR is 0.1111 ZAR per Ethiopian Birr.

  • Finding a company offering an exchange rate closer to this will mean more Rand for your Ethiopian Birr.

  • The average ETB-ZAR mid-market rate for the last 7 days has been 0.1112 ZAR per Ethiopian Birr. This includes a high of 0.1112, and low of 0.1112.

  • Out of the 3 companies compared, Western Union Agent offers the best exchange rates.

  • The exchange rate you receive on converting ETB to ZAR should be the biggest determining cost factor when transferring Ethiopian Birr to South Africa.

Fees: Transfer fees may have to be paid alongside the transfer, either as a set fee or a percentage of the transfer. Western Union Agent, cahrges 3 ETB per transfer, which is currently the cheapest option.

Although you should search for your send amount for actual fees.

Amount Received: Money transfer companies will show you the amount of Rand eventually received in South Africa.

A lower cost of sending from Ethiopia will result in more money received in South Africa.

Getting best exchange rate for transfers between Ethiopian Birr and Rand

Timing is essential for transferring money between ETB and ZAR. The exchange rate you secure impacts how much ZAR you get for your ETB.

Mid-market Rate
1 
ETB
=
0.111128 
ZAR

The recent trends between the currencies are:

  • Over the past 7 days, the mid-market rate from ETB to ZAR has moved slightly. On average, it was 0.1112.

  • During this same period,there was a high of 0.1112, and a low of 0.1112.

  • Western Union Agent, which is our recommended service to send money online from Ethiopia to South Africa offers 0.1057 ZAR per ETB which is only 5% above the mid-market rate.

Want to secure the best ETB-Rand exchange rates?

Sign up for our rate alerts and we'll tell you when it's the best time to move your money from Ethiopia to South Africa!

Payment options for Ethiopia to
South Africa money transfers

  • Bank transfers

    Bank transfers are usually the best and easiest way to send money from Ethiopia to South Africa.

    By using a money transfer company such as Western Union Agent for transfers from Ethiopia to South Africa, you can send money via a bank transfer while benefitting from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get from a traditional bank.


    Western Union Agent is the cheapest money transfer company for bank transfers from the 3 we compared for transfers from ETB into South Africa.

    With a fee of 3 ETB to send money from Ethiopia to South Africa, Western Union Agent offers a strong combination of competitive exchange rates and lower fees.


  • Debit cards and prepaid options

    Sending money from Ethiopia to South Africa with a debit or a prepaid card is available through Western Union Agent.


    Western Union Agent is a one of the cheaper options for debit card payments for transfers from Ethiopia to South Africa. This cost is against a total of 3 money transfer companies offering this option.

  • Credit cards

    When it comes to international credit card transfers from Ethiopia to South Africa, we recommend comparing your options to get the best deal.

    Be aware of fees: using a credit card to transfer money often results in a fee being charged by your card issuer. Where possible, we recommend a bank transfer or debit card payment.

How we analyze the market

We track the cost, speed, and product offerings of the leading money transfer services available between South Africa and Ethiopia.


Our comparison engine and algorithms evaluate providers based on over 25 factors, including transfer fees, ease of use, exchange rates, mobile apps, transfer times & customer support.

We also consider how these services are rated on platforms like TrustPilot, AppStore, and Google Play, giving you a comprehensive view of what to expect.

This thorough analysis helps you get the best available deal - every time you want to move money from Ethiopia to South Africa.


We also provide unbiased and detailed reviews of all the top money transfer companies. You can use these reviews to send ETB to ZAR.


For a deeper understanding of our commitment to integrity and transparency, we invite you to read our editorial policy and review methodology.

Money transfer company reviews

How much money can be transferred from Ethiopia to South Africa?
Are there any tax implications to sending money from Ethiopia to South Africa?
Can I send money from Ethiopia to South Africa with MoneyTransfers.com?
What are the typical transfer fees for sending Ethiopian Birrs to South Africa through various providers?
How long does it take to send money from Ethiopia to South Africa?
What is the best exchange rate I can get for sending money from Ethiopia to South Africa?
Are there any minimum or maximum transfer amounts for sending money from Ethiopia to South Africa?
Can I schedule regular transfers between Ethiopia and South Africa?

Contributors

Keith Hodges
Keith is an experienced Content Specialist with a rich background in both marketing and journalism within the financial sector. At MoneyTransfers.com, Keith plays a pivotal role in driving the business forward and broadening its reach in various international money transfer markets. His expertise is a key factor in the company's expansion and success.
Luke Eales
Luke is the founder and CEO of MoneyTransfers.com, with over 10 years’ experience building consumer products across finance, insurance, and travel. A frequent traveler himself, Luke has hands-on experience testing payment and transfer services globally, giving him a unique perspective on the real-world challenges users face. Luke focuses on the payments sector and foreign exchange markets, as well as personal finance more broadly.
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