MoneyTransfers

Compare ways to send money from Kenya to United States

Compare the best ways to send money from Kenya to the United States. Explore the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable providers with the best KES to USD exchange rates.

Read on for the best deals, expert information, and all you need to send money to the United States from Kenya.

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Best choice: Wise

Wise is our recommended way to send Kenyan Shilling to USD.

We tested & reviewed dozens of money transfer providers, and Wise scored highly.

Wise appeared in 69.8% of Kenya to the United States searches in the last 6 months, and was the top rated company out of 8 that support KES to USD.

So for a great blend of cost, speed & features, make your Kenya to the United States transfer using Wise.

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How to compare deals on Kenya to United States money transfers

Summary of recent searches

Top rated for transfers from Kenya to United States
Wise
Total number of KE - US providers
8
Average cheapest fees & rate
Instarem
Average fastest transfer
Wise
Average transfer time
Within minutes
Best for bank transfers
Wise
Best for debit card
Wise
Best for credit card
Wise

Get the most from sending money from Kenya to United States

1
Compare providers

Comparing providers offering services between Kenya and the United States based on your specific transfer amount, is the easiest way to get the best price on your transfer.

We cover the entire KES-USD market and have compared 8 providers offering services between Kenya and the United States.

This ensures you will get the most comprehensive options for sending Kenyan Shilling to the United States.

Whilst we rate Wise as the best overall for transfers between the two countries, comparing gives you the best idea for your specific Kenya to the United States transfer needs.

2
Beat the Kenyan Shilling-US Dollar exchange rate
3
Choose the right payment method
4
Financial regulations across Kenya and United States
5
Consider minimum and maximum limits
6
Receiving money in United States
7
Be ready with your ID
8
Tax declarations

Cheapest way to send money to the United States from Kenya: Wise

Wise combines the lowest fees with the best exchange rate and from the 8 companies compared offers the cheapest transfers to the United States from Kenya.

Data collected through our comparison over the past six months shows that Wise is 4.4% cheaper than the second-best option.

The cost is made up of an average fee of 15* KES and an exchange rate for buying US Dollar with Kenyan Shilling that is 0% different to the mid-market rate.

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

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

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Fastest money transfers to the United States from Kenya: Wise.

Of 8 money transfer companies offering services from Kenya to the United States, Wise is the quickest way to send money.

Through our comparison, we found Wise to be the fastest option for sending Kenyan Shilling to US Dollar 64.4% of the time. For fast transfers between KES and USD, Wise is a great option.

When sending money from Kenya to the United States, Wise has an average fee of 5.11 KES. Although we would recommend comparing the amount you want to send.

When testing the fastest options, we compared the 8 money transfer providers offering Kenya to the United States transfers for overall speed. This included transfer times to after depositing Kenyan Shilling to a money transfer account.

When you want the fastest way to send, Wise is our recommended choice for Kenya to the United States transfers.

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Transfer a large amount of money

For transferring bigger sums of money to the United States from Kenya, opt for a provider with a competitive exchange rate and strong account management.

Wise is the best rated company for sending large amounts of US Dollar to the United States out of
8 companies offering the service.

Whether for a property purchase, or for business, sending large amounts of money to the United States from Kenya has the potential to be very expensive.

Wise is our choice for big transfers to KES because of all round price, speed and management when making large transfers.

Understanding the cost of money transfers from Kenya to United States

The total cost of sending money to United States from Kenya is made up of a combination of mid-market, exchange rates and fees.

The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current mid-market for KES-USD is 0.0077 USD per Kenyan Shilling.

Using a transfer company with an exchange rate as close to the mid-market rate as possible will result in being able to buy more US Dollar for your Kenyan Shillings.

Over the last three months, the average KES-USD mid-market rate has seen each Kenyan Shilling worth 0.0077 USD. Within this we see a high of 0.0079, and a low of 0.0074.

Of the 8 companies compared, Wise offers the best exchange rates.

The biggest factor in the overall cost of sending money is the exchange rate you receive on converting KES to USD.

Fees: When sending money you may have to pay fees. Instarem has had an average fee of 15 KES per transfer over the last 6 months, the lowest of the 8 providers compared. We would recommend searching to ensure you get the correct fee for your transfer amount.

Amount Received: When comparing providers, the best measure is the amount of US Dollar eventually received in the United States.

This number should be a guide for your decision if cost is important. A higher amount of money received in the United States means a better overall cost of sending money from Kenya.

Getting the best exchange rate for Kenyan Shilling to US Dollar

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

Mid-market Rate
1
= 0.007737 USD

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

  • Over the past six months, the interbank rate from KES to USD has seen some fluctuation. On average, it has been 0.0077.

  • During this period, the highest value level was 0.0079, with a low of 0.0074.

  • Wise, which is our recommended service to send money online from Kenya to United States offers an exchange rate that is only 0% above the mid-market rate.

Want to secure the best KES-US Dollar exchange rates?

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Payment methods available to fund your Kenya to
United States transfer

  • Bank transfers

    Bank transfers are often the better option for money transfers from Kenya to the United States.

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


    On average, Wise is the best provider for bank transfers of the 8 we tested when sending KES to the United States.

    With an average fee of KES8.79 to send money from Kenya to the United States, Wise offers a great combination of competitive exchange rates and lower fees.


  • Debit and prepaid cards

    Sending money from Kenya to the United States with a prepaid or a debit card is very simple with Wise.


    Wise is a leader in card payments for transfers from Kenya to the United States, competing among a total of 8 active money transfer companies on this route.

  • Credit cards

    When it comes to transferring money with a credit card from Kenya to the United States, Instarem emerges as our top choice of the 8 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 United States 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 United States.


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


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

Money transfer company reviews

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Can I send money from Kenya to United States with MoneyTransfers.com?
What are the typical transfer fees for sending Kenyan Shillings to United States through various providers?
How long does it take to send money from Kenya to United States?
What is the best exchange rate I can get for sending money from Kenya to United States?
Are there any minimum or maximum transfer amounts for sending money from Kenya to United States?
Can I schedule regular transfers between Kenya and United States?

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.