Are you planning to send money to Singapore?
Do you know that every time you send money to Singapore (or elsewhere) via bank transfers, you need to pay hidden fees that banks never tell you about?
And the fees are huge. They can go as high as 4-5% of the total amount of the transaction.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about sending money to Singapore, including transfer rates, exchange rates, transfer speeds, and different money transfer provider options.
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Contents
Key Takeaways
- If you want to send money to Singapore, there are a few ways to do so, including using an online money transfer service, international bank transfers, foreign currency cheques, or forex companies.
- When choosing a method, consider the transfer fees, exchange rates, transfer speeds, and fund security to find the best option.
- It normally takes 2-3 business days to send money to Singapore.
- Since the transfer fee changes regularly, using a website like Monito can help you compare international money transfer options like Wise, XE, and Instarem, quickly.
What to Watch Out For
If you’re looking to send money to Singapore, make sure you consider the following factors:
Transfer Fees
Sending money anywhere in the world requires you to pay transfer fees. There are three types: fixed fees, percentage fees, or a combination of both.
A fixed fee is standard across all types of funds transfers regardless of the amount. It’s common practice for banks to charge a fixed fee.
For example, DBS Bank Singapore charges a fixed fee of $10 SGD handling fee when receiving funds from overseas regardless of the amount.
On the other hand, there are percentage fees, which are calculated as a certain percentage of the transfer amount.
That means the higher the amount of money you send, the higher the percentage fees you need to pay. Many online money transfer services charge percentage fees.
There are also financial institutions and money transfer companies that charge both fixed and percentage fees. They may charge you a low amount of fixed fee but a high amount of percentage fee. PayPal uses this method.
Note that different financial institutions have different transfer fees.
In addition, low transfer fees do not always mean you pay less when sending money.
You need to take a look at exchange rates, as well.
Exchange Rates
Exchange rates are another important factor you must check before sending money to Singapore.
More importantly, you need to understand what a mid-market rate is, or the exchange rate between financial institutions. In other words, it’s the currency’s rate before financial institutions mark up its price.
Basically, you may not be able to get this rate when sending money overseas. But there’s a way to know how much the financial institutions charge you for the currency exchange.
You can check mid-market rates at XE.com.
You won’t be able to get this rate from most money transfer services. But you can check how much money they make through exchange rates and choose a money transfer company that charges the fairest rate.
A bank or money transfer company may charge lower transfer fees but don’t be deceived — they might have higher exchange rates, which means transferring money with them is much more expensive especially when you need to transfer a lot of money in Singapore including when you need to buy a condo here.
Transfer Speeds
Another critical aspect you need to look into is how long it takes them to send money.
Banks may take up to 2-3 business days to transfer funds, while money transfer agencies like Wise can transfer funds on the same business day or the next day.
Fund Security
It is important to choose a provider that complies with all safety standards and regulations. They should not only meet the local government guidelines but also adhere to international standards, ensuring your money transfers are not flagged as money laundering.
Calculating Everything Together
Before sending money, you’ll want to find out which option will give you the best rate. To do this, you need to calculate both transfer fees and exchange rates, and compare.
If that sounds complicated, use a website like monito.com to compare rates offered by different money transfer providers.
Just enter the amount of money you wish to send, and the site will automatically calculate — using real-time exchange rates — how much money will be sent via different money transfer services.
You’ll also know how long it will take before the money is sent.
Monito may not list all available options for sending money to Singapore, but they provide results for a considerable number of money transfer options.
Transfer Options
When transferring money internationally, you need to take into account factors like exchange rates, transfer fees, transfer guidelines, maximum transfer amounts, speed, safety, etc.
Make sure you consider those factors regardless of which of the following options you choose:
- Online money transfer
- Bank transfer
- PayPal
- Western Union
- ForeigncCurrency cheques
- Forex companies
- Crypto transfer
Online Money Transfer Service
When transferring money to Singapore, using an online money transfer service is one of the best options. It’s usually the cheapest and fastest, as well.
Here are some of the popular online money transfer services available, with details on their benefits, exchange rates, and what we like about them.
Wise
Wise is a UK-based online money transfer service that launched in 2011 in London. Wise supports more than 40 currencies and is considered one of the best online money transfer services.
The founders of Wise, Kristo Kaarman and Taavet Hinrikus, thought that banks and forex agencies were charging huge fees in commissions and other hidden charges, so they decided to create their own online money transfer service.
Their main objective was to reduce the transfer fees when sending money overseas.
What’s good about Wise is its transparency. You can see the exchange rates and fees that will be charged upfront, so you’ll be better able to make a decision before initiating a transfer. That means you’ll know how much money you’ll be saving if you compare their rates with traditional bank transfers.
Highlights
- Transparent exchange rate and transfer fee
- Quick transfer with 1-4 business days delivery
- Easy to use
- 48-hour exchange rate guarantee
- Regulated by the FCA
Exchange Rates
Wise uses the mid-market rate for their exchange rate. It means they don’t make money from currency exchange rates but from transfer fees alone.
Transfer Fees
Wise comes with low transfer fees that range between 0.39%-0.5%. So whether you’re sending $100 or $10,000, you’ll get standard rates within that range.
But you may still need to pay an additional fee if you use a credit card or a debit card as a payment method. It’s usually around 3%.
Wise provides its customers with a detailed breakdown of the fee structure. The rates may vary based on the currencies involved and where money is to be sent.
To further decrease the transfer fee, you can open a borderless account and benefit from reduced fees when sending money to or from the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Canada.. You can read our review of Wise Borderless Account to learn more about it.
Speed
Wise is quite fast; for instance, sending $1,000 USD to a Singapore recipient through bank transfer can be done within four hours.
If you use a debit card or a credit card, it might even take less than an hour. Even wire transfers can be done within the same business day.
To get a better idea of how long it takes to transfer money, use Wise’s online calculator on their homepage.
Ease of Use
Wise is easy to use. Transfer can be done within a few minutes.
In addition, the site is available in 18 languages, including English, French, Polish, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, and Turkish.
You can check the resources available in the help section that provides answers to questions such as how to get started, what are the currencies supported, and how to create a borderless account.
How to Send Money with Wise
To send money to Singapore using Wise, simply follow these steps:
- Create an account with Wise. Click on “Register” on the home page, then select between a Personal and Business account and fill out your email address and other details.
- Calculate the exchange rate, transfer fee, and processing time using the online calculator found on the website’s home page.
- Still using the online calculator, click on “See calculation” to see how total fees, including transfer fees and converted amount are computed.
- Enter the following details:
- Amount to be sent
- Sending currency
- Recipient currency
- Recipient details
- Choose transfer type
Wise will then process the transaction and the money usually gets sent in about 4-6 hours.
You can read our Wise review article to learn more about Wise.
Instarem
Instarem is a Singapore-based company that started in 2014 with the aim of making international transfers more affordable for everyone.
They offer instant or same-day international transfers, so you or your recipient can access the money quickly.
Instarem also has an app, making sending money to Singapore much easier.
Highlights
- Real-time payment tracking
- Competitive FX rates and low fees
- Licensed and regulated in 11 countries
- All costs are upfront
- Earn rewards on transactions
- Discounted rates for first-time users
Exchange Rates
Instarem uses mid-market rates with minimal margins (typically between 0.5% to 3%) reflected in your quote. The more money you send, the better your exchange rate will be and new users get a discounted exchange rate.
To give you a better idea of the exchange rate you might get, at the time of writing (April 2024), Insarem is offering an exchange rate of USD 1 = SGD 1.34, while the market rate is currently USD 1 = SGD 1.36.
Transfer Fees
Transaction fees are much lower compared to other money transfer companies, ranging from 0.25% to 1%. For some routes, there’s no fee at all.
For example, to send USD to Singapore, there’s no fee, but to send AUD to Singapore, there’s a 4 AUD fee.
Speed
Using Instarem, you can send money to most accounts in minutes or on the same day at the very least, depending on the payment method you’re using.
Bank transfers are instant, but using a credit card or debit card can take a few hours to process.
Ease of Use
Instarem is very user-friendly. Making an account only takes a few minutes, and you don’t even need one to request a quote for your transfer.
If you need help with your transaction, you can use the 24/7 live chat or email support, but there’s no phone support available, which may be an issue for less tech savvy users.
How to Send Money with Instarem
To send money using Instarem, you first need to create an account. To do this, click on “Sign up,” then choose individual.
Provide basic personal information like your name, date of birth, nationality, employment status, and contact number.
Once your account is set up, choose the currency you want to send and the currency your recipient will receive. For example, you might want to send $1,000 USD, but your recipient will receive the equivalent amount (less fees) in SGD.
Then you can see all the applicable fees, exchange rate, and the total amount your recipient will get within a few minutes.
New users also get a special fee discount on their first transfer, so you can test out the service without losing much.
Apart from Wise and Instarem, there are other money transfer companies that offer similar services, including:
International Bank Transfers
When it comes to transferring money across borders, many people often opt for an international bank transfer. This is understandable because, for many years, that was the only option available.
And although international bank transfer rates are higher compared to other methods, they are always the safest. That said, you shouldn’t just choose any bank to do funds transfers as you may end up losing up to 4-5% of the amount sent due to fees.
What’s worse is that you won’t even be informed about the amount deducted from the transaction amount.
Singapore has a well-connected banking network, which is why sending money to anyone is easy. The downside is that bank transfers often come with a higher transaction fee and you need to pay a fee to both the sending bank and the receiving bank.
So unless you are sending a huge amount of money or you need credit advice for accounting purposes, a bank transfer is not recommended. Should you opt for a bank transfer, then consider the following aspects:
Choosing a Bank for Sending Money
Remember that every bank has its own fee structure.
While the transfer fee is quite easy to find, the exchange rate isn’t. In most cases, banks will say that exchange rates vary. But this is usually only an excuse to avoid disclosing hidden charges in a transaction, which could cost as much as 1-2% of the total amount to be transferred.
If you’re looking to transfer a huge sum of money, it’s always smart to compare the exchange rate provided with the mid-market rate before you send money.
It’s worth noting that some sending banks may charge up to 4% of the transfer amount as exchange rates. This is usually the case when you send money in a foreign currency and ask the bank to convert it into SGD.
Therefore, it’s better to send money in the original currency and let the receiving bank make the conversion. That’s because the fee that will be charged by the receiving bank will be much less than the sending bank’s.
Choosing a Bank for Receiving Money
Like the sending banks, receiving banks also have their own fee structure. The only difference is that with sending banks, you can get the exchange rates beforehand, but not with receiving banks.
Let’s take a look at the various banks in Singapore and their exchange rate fees:
| Bank | Exchange Rate Fee | Handling Fee |
| DBS | 0.68% | $10 SGD |
| UOB | 0.62% | $20 SGD |
| OCBC | 0.67% | Free to a fixed deposit account or $10 to SGD or FCY account |
| HSBC | 1.98% | $10 SGD |
Foreign Currency Cheque
If you want to send money to Singapore through a bank transfer because it’s safe but are concerned that banks’ exchange rates are higher than forex agencies, an ideal middle ground is to send money using foreign currency cheques.
For example, if you are sending a foreign currency cheque of 100 USD to Singapore, the bank in Singapore will only receive the cheque while the conversion of USD to SGD will be done at the receiver’s end.
In this method, the exchange rates are lower compared to sending cash. Remember that some local cheques will not be valid in certain countries, so make sure you inquire with your bank regarding foreign currency cheques and related fees.
Note that when cashing a cheque, you may need to pay some fees. In addition, cheques take some time to clear, which is not a concern when sending money through banks and forex agencies.
Banks like DBS charge 1/8% of the total cheque value with a minimum $10 SGD handling fee and a maximum of $100 SGD handling fee. It takes a minimum of 21 days for cheques to clear.
So unless it’s necessary, cheque is not recommended.
Forex Companies
Another option is to send money via forex companies.
Note that when a forex company tells you that they provide you exchange rates lower than what banks offer, they will still charge fees to make a profit.
What is a Forex Company?
A forex company, also known as a foreign exchange broker, is a non-bank company that allows foreign currency exchange and international money transfers. Using forex brokers, people can buy and sell foreign currencies. Unlike online money transfer services, forex brokers are often used for large volume transfers.
Why Should You Use Forex Companies to Send Money Overseas?
Compared with online money transfer services, forex companies can transfer money to everywhere in the world and charge fees lesser than banks’. Forex companies’ transfer fees are also much lower and they support various payment methods. And transfers are quick.
What Are the Disadvantages of Using Forex Companies?
The main disadvantage of using forex companies is that there is often limited transparency with forex transfers.
Examples of Forex Companies
Western Union
If you want to make an instant money transfer to anyone in the world, Western Union is the best way to go. Money will be sent in less than 2-3 minutes.
But instant money transfers are expensive, and depending on the country you are sending, the transfer fee may vary between $5-$50 SGD.
For a regular transfer, the exchange rates may be up to 4% of the total transfer amount and around 7.5% for instant money transfers.
Western Union has more than 150 branches in Singapore, and you can send money using their services by:
- Making an online transfer
- Using the Western Union mobile application
- Visiting a Western Union branch
PayPal
If you are looking to send money in small amounts, you can always use PayPal, a convenient way to send money to Singapore or any part of the world. The transfer fee might range from $0.50 – 1% for personal payments.
If you send a payment in a currency different from the recipient’s currency, PayPal charges a conversion fee between 2.5% and 4.5% of the amount. The rate varies among currencies.
To send a payment to anyone in Singapore, you need the recipient’s mobile number or email address. Most importantly, the recipient needs to have a PayPal account.
Cryptocurrencies
Although not treated as legal tender, cryptocurrencies are treated as goods by the Singapore goverment. Hence, a Goods and Service Tax is imposed on cryptocurrency transfers.
There are various cryptocurrency platforms where you can open an account, buy Bitcoins or any other cryptocurrency, and make transfers or payments.
Similarly, the recipient can log into a cryptocurrency platform, convert cryptocurrency into fiat currency, and withdraw the amount easily.
Country-Specific Recommendations
If you’re looking for information on rates and fees for sending money from a particular country, we’ve got you covered:
Please note that money service providers may change their exchange rate and transfer fees over time. To compare current rates, you can use a service such as Monito.com.
Sending Money from the United States to Singapore
Looking for the best method to transfer money from the US to Singapore? Check the comparison table below to compare the transfer fees, exchange rates, and transfer speeds for transfers of $1,000 USD to Singapore using Wise, Instarem, XE and WorldRemit.
| Money Transfer Provider | Transfer Fee | Exchange Rate | Amount Received with $1,000 USD | Transfer Speed |
| Wise | $6.73 USD | 1.36 | $1,352 SGD | Same day |
| Instarem | Free | 1.35 | $1,355 SGD | Same day |
| XE | $2.99 USD | 1.33 | $1,331 SGD | Up to 1 day |
| WorldRemit | $34.99 USD | 1.30 | $1,265.91 SGD | 1-2 working days |
Sending Money from the United Kingdom to Singapore
Looking for the best method to transfer money from the UK to Singapore? Check the comparison table below to compare the transfer fees, exchange rates, and transfer speeds for transfers of 1,000 GBP to Singapore using Wise, Instarem,WorldRemit, and XE.
| Money Transfer Provider | Transfer Fee | Exchange Rate | Amount Received with GBP 1,000 | Transfer Speed |
| Wise | 4.35 GBP | 1.69 | $1,688 SGD | Same day |
| Instarem | Free | 1.68 | $1,683 SGD | Same day |
| WorldRemit | 4.99 GBP | 1.63 | $1,625 SGD | 1-2 working days |
| XE | 1.99 GBP | 1.67 | $1,672 | Up to 1 day |
Sending Money from Australia to Singapore
Looking for the best method to transfer money from Australia to Singapore? Check the comparison table below to compare the transfer fees, exchange rates, and transfer speeds for transfers of $1,000 AUD to Singapore using Wise, WorldRemit, and Commonwealth Bank.
| Money Transfer Provider | Transfer Fee | Exchange Rate | Amount Received With $1,000 AUD | Transfer Speed |
| Wise | $5.21 AUD | 0.87 | $875.08 SGD | 2 days |
| WorldRemit | $4.99 AUD | 0.84 | $844.07 SGD | 1-2 working days |
| Commonwealth Bank | $36.96 AUD | 0.84 | $810.40 SGD | 2 working days |
| XE | Free | 0.86 | $865.50 | Up to 1 day |
Now, on to You
Ultimately, some people might still choose bank transfers to send money across the border. But while bank transfers are perceived as the safest option, there are other ways to send money and save a lot on transfer fees and other hidden charges.
We hope this article has provided you with everything you need to know about sending money to Singapore.
Here’s a tip: before you get started on sending money to Singapore, go to Monito.com first and find out which money transfer provider can give you the best rates in real time.
