Safaricom M-Pesa Transaction Fees for 1,000 KES
Ksh 13 on Ksh 1,000 works out to 1.3% of what you are sending.
Ksh 1,000 is a common amount for sending money home, paying a rent deposit, or covering school fees in instalments. The fee is similar to a bank EFT fee, but M-PESA gets there in seconds.
Need to withdraw Ksh 1,000?
The recipient will pay Ksh 29 to withdraw this cash at an agent.
Most people only think about the sending fee. But the person receiving Ksh 1,000 will pay Ksh 29 to withdraw the cash at an agent. Access the full withdrawal tariff below.
M-PESA sending charges — full table (2025)
These are Safaricom's current rates for sending to registered M-PESA users and Buy Goods tills. The highlighted row is where Ksh 1,000 falls.
| Amount (Ksh) | Sending Charge | Total Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 100 | Free | Same as amount |
| 101 - 500 | Ksh 7 | Amount + Ksh 7 |
| 501 - 1,000 | Ksh 13 | Amount + Ksh 13 |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | Ksh 23 | Amount + Ksh 23 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | Ksh 33 | Amount + Ksh 33 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | Ksh 53 | Amount + Ksh 53 |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | Ksh 57 | Amount + Ksh 57 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | Ksh 78 | Amount + Ksh 78 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 | Ksh 90 | Amount + Ksh 90 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 | Ksh 100 | Amount + Ksh 100 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 | Ksh 105 | Amount + Ksh 105 |
| 20,001 - 250,000 | Ksh 108 | Amount + Ksh 108 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to send 1,000 via M-PESA?
Sending Ksh 1,000 costs Ksh 13. You need at least Ksh 1,013 in your wallet. The fee is 1.3% of the transfer value.
What does the recipient pay to withdraw Ksh 1,000?
Withdrawing Ksh 1,000 at an M-PESA agent costs Ksh 29. They receive the full amount you sent; the withdrawal fee is deducted separately from their balance if they cash out.
Can I pay less than Ksh 13 to send around Ksh 1,000?
Ksh 1,000 is the absolute top of this charge band. Send Ksh 1 more — Ksh 1,001 — and the fee jumps by Ksh 10 to Ksh 23.
Is it cheaper to send to a bank account?
Yes. M-PESA to Bank transfers (Send to Bank) are currently free — Ksh 0 charge. However, bank transfers can take longer to reflect and may carry bank-side receiving fees.
Does it cost more to send to Airtel or T-Kash?
No. Since 2025, Safaricom charges the same rate regardless of the recipient's network. For 1,000 KES, the fee remains 13 KES whether you send to Safaricom, Airtel, or Telkom.