Corridor · USD to PHP
Sending money from the US to the Philippines: the cost, split apart
At our October 26, 2026 reference rate of 63.50 PHP per dollar, a $500 transfer delivers between 30,638 and 31,496 PHP depending on the channel. The spread is about 858 PHP. Markups run wider on this corridor in our parameters, so the rate matters even more and the flat fee matters less. Check the rate first, the fee second.
Open the calculator for this corridor
| Channel | Fee | Exchange-rate markup | Tax | Total cost | Recipient gets | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
What the cost is made of
Worked example: $500, bank account funding
| Channel | Fee | Markup cost | Tax | Total cost | Recipient gets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online transfer service | $3.00 | $4.00 | $0.00 | $7.00 | 31,496.00 PHP |
| Cash pickup network | $4.99 | $10.00 | $0.00 | $14.99 | 31,115.00 PHP |
| Bank wire | $35.00 | $17.50 | $0.00 | $52.50 | 30,638.75 PHP |
Cash funding adds $5.00 of tax to any row. E-wallet payout such as GCash or Maya is common on this corridor. We price it under the online row, since the funding and rate logic is the same.
Practical notes for Philippines
- Bank deposit and e-wallet delivery are usually priced alike online. Cash pickup costs more.
- Transfers above local wallet limits may be split or held for verification. Send large amounts a few days early.
- Names must match the recipient ID exactly. A middle-name mismatch is the most common hold we hear about.
Parameters used in every estimate
Base rates are approximate public mid-market references dated October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 18.60 MXN and 1 USD = 63.50 PHP. They are not live rates.
| Parameter | Value used | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online service, Mexico: fee | $1.99 + 0.8% of amount | Remitly public US to Mexico pricing (base fee $1.99) | 2026-10-26 |
| Online service, Philippines: fee | 0.6% of amount, no flat fee | Wise public pricing (mid-market rate, variable fee) | 2026-10-26 |
| Online service: exchange markup | 0.6% Mexico, 0.8% Philippines | Sample estimate, public quote comparisons | 2026-10-26 |
| Bank wire: fee and markup | $35 flat, 3.2% Mexico / 3.5% Philippines | Sample estimate, typical published US bank wire range $25 to $50 | 2026-10-26 |
| Cash pickup: fee and markup | $4.99 flat, 1.8% Mexico / 2.0% Philippines | Sample estimate, public cash network pricing | 2026-10-26 |
| Federal tax on cash-funded remittances | 1% of the amount sent | IRS, Internal Revenue Code section 4475, effective 2026-01-01 | 2026-10-26 |
Rows marked as a sample estimate are exactly that. We did not find a single public price list that covers every bank or cash location, so we show the assumption instead of hiding it.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to send $500 to the Philippines in this model?
An online service funded from a bank account, at an estimated $7.00 total cost.
Does the 1% tax apply to GCash delivery?
The tax follows how you fund the transfer, not how the recipient is paid. Fund with cash and it applies. Fund from a bank account and it does not.