Sending money abroad from Greece — compare on what arrives, not the fee
The two costs in every transfer
- The transfer fee — visible, advertised.
- The exchange-rate markup (FX margin) — the gap between the real mid-market rate and the rate you’re given. This is a fee too, just invisible. See FX margin explained.
Why “zero fee” can be the expensive option
a provider can advertise “no fee” while quietly widening the exchange rate by 2–3%. On a €300 send that hidden markup can cost more than a small flat fee at the real rate. The headline number is designed to look cheap; the rate is where the money is made.
The only honest comparison
enter the same amount in two or three providers at the same minute, and look at how many lekë / pesos / rupees / pounds actually land in the recipient’s hands. Whichever delivers the most received is the cheapest — regardless of what the fees say.
Quick rules that usually hold
- Fund by bank transfer, not credit card — card funding often adds around 3%.
- Bank deposit is cheapest to receive; cash pickup and mobile-wallet payout carry wider margins.
- If it’s EUR within SEPA (now including Albania), a plain bank transfer usually beats every remittance app.
- Avoid the bank-SWIFT route for small sums — worst retail rate plus SWIFT fees; keep it for large, formal transfers.
How not to get cheated
ignore the big “FREE” banner and the fee in isolation. The number that matters is what arrives. Quote live (rates move every few minutes), compare two or three at once, and pick the most received — see which providers to compare.
Related
FX margin explained · money-transfer providers · SEPA transfers · corridor guide
This is general information, not financial advice. Rates and fees change constantly — always get a live quote. WTP Finance is informational only.