MoneyTransfers
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Compare the best money transfer service from Kenya to South Africa

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

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

Transferring the other way? Send ZAR from South Africa to Kenya instead.
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Overall best option: Airwallex

Airwallex is our recommended company for sending money to South Africa from KES.

Of the 6 companies that support KES to ZAR, Airwallex offered the best combination of cost and speed.

Overall, Airwallex appeared in 48.7% of Kenya to South Africa searches, consistently scoring as one of the best ways to send KES to ZAR.

So for a great mix of cost, speed & features, send Kenyan Shillings to South Africa using Airwallex.

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

Summary of recent searches

Top rated for transfers from Kenya to South Africa
Airwallex
Total number of KE - ZA providers
6
Average cheapest fees & rate
Airwallex
Average fastest transfer
Airwallex
Average transfer time
Within minutes
Best for bank transfers
Airwallex
Best for debit card
Wise
Best for credit card
Wise

Transfer consider from Kenya to South Africa

1
Compare available providers

A comparison of providers offering services between Kenya 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 Kenyan Shilling to South Africa we've compared 6 providers.

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

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

2
Getting the best Kenyan Shilling-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

Cheapest way to send money to South Africa from Kenya: Airwallex

Airwallex combines the lowest fees with the best exchange rate and from the 6 companies compared offers the cheapest transfers to South Africa from Kenya.

Data collected through our comparison over the past six months shows that Airwallex is 0.5% cheaper than the second-best option.

The cost is made up of an average fee of 0* KES and an exchange rate for buying Rand with Kenyan Shilling that is 0.02% different to the mid-market rate.

If you want to secure the best rates on a Kenya to South Africa transfer, Airwallex offers value. We would still recommend searching for the amount you want to send to South Africa.

*The most common fee applied to KES-ZAR by Airwallex, based on data from the past six months.

Fastest way to transfer money from Kenya to South Africa: Airwallex

Of the 6 companies compared, Airwallex currently offers the fastest money transfers to South Africa from Kenya.

Our data shows that Airwallex came up as the fastest option for sending Kenyan Shilling into Rand in 45.9% of searches. This makes them well suited to urgent KES to ZAR money transfers.

The average fee for a KES-Rand transfer through Airwallex is 0 KES.

To get the 'fastest' option we compared 6 providers for overall speed of sending money from Kenya to South Africa - this includes depositing Kenyan Shilling, transfer times, withdrawal timeframes in South Africa. 


When speed matters, Airwallex is your best choice for sending into South Africa from Kenya.

Need to make a large transfer?

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

Airwallex is the best option for large transfers of the
6 providers compared.

While Airwallex may not always be the cheapest or fastest way to send KES from Kenya to South Africa, it's a great provider for larger transfers for things like buying or selling property.

Understanding the cost of transferring money to South Africa from {countryFromName}}

Fees and exchange rates make up the total cost of sending money from South Africa to South Africa. Finding a company that can offer both ensures a good deal on your transfer.

The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current KES-ZAR mid-market rate is 0.1358 ZAR per Kenyan Shilling. You will get more Rand for your Kenyan Shillings if you find a provider close to this number.

  • For context, over the last three months the KES-ZAR mid-market rate has had a high of 0.144, a low of 0.1327 and averaged 0.1374 ZAR per Kenyan Shilling.

  • Across the 6 companies compared, the best exchange rate is with Airwallex.

  • Unless fees are unusually high, the exchange rate you receive on converting KES to ZAR will be the biggest determining factor when working out the cost of transferring Kenyan Shillings to South Africa.

Fees: Transfer fees are charged as part of the transfer. Airwallex at an average of 0 KES per transfer over the last 6 months, offers the lowest fees overall. We’d always recommend comparing providers for your exact send amount as fees may change.

Amount Received: Money transfer companies will show you the amount of Rand eventually received in South Africa. You can assume that a lower cost of sending from Kenya will result in more money received in South Africa.

Getting the best exchange rate for Kenyan Shilling to Rand

Tracking the mid-market rate can make a huge difference when sending money KES to ZAR. The exchange rate you secure impacts how much ZAR you get for your KES.

Mid-market Rate
1
= 0.135808 ZAR

Here's some data on recent trends in the mid-market rate.

  • Over the past six months, the interbank rate from KES to ZAR has seen some fluctuation. On average, it has been 0.1374.

  • During this period, the highest value level was 0.144, with a low of 0.1327.

  • Airwallex, which is our recommended service to send money online from Kenya to South Africa offers an exchange rate that is only 0.02% above the mid-market rate.

Want to secure the best KES-Rand exchange rates?

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Payment methods available to fund your Kenya to
South Africa transfer

  • Bank transfers

    Bank transfers are often the better option for money transfers from Kenya to South Africa.

    Sending money via a bank transfer with a company such as Airwallex for transfers from Kenya to South Africa allows you to benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get with a traditional bank. 


    On average, Airwallex is the best provider for bank transfers of the 6 we tested when sending KES to South Africa.

    With an average fee of KES0 to send money from Kenya to South Africa, Airwallex offers a great combination of competitive exchange rates and lower fees.


  • Debit and prepaid cards

    Sending money from Kenya to South Africa with a prepaid or a debit card is very simple with Wise.


    Wise is a leader in card payments for transfers from Kenya to South Africa, competing among a total of 6 active money transfer companies on this route.

  • Credit cards

    When it comes to transferring money with a credit card from Kenya to South Africa, Instarem emerges as our top choice of the 6 companies offering this service.

    Beware 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 instead.

How we analyze the market

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


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 Kenya to South Africa.


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


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

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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 CEO at MoneyTransfers.com, with 10 years' experience building consumer products in finance, insurance & travel. Luke focuses on the payments sector and foreign exchange markets, as well as personal finance more broadly.