Which quote actually pays more.
Two remittance quotes, one comparison: enter today's rate and fee from each operator and see which one delivers more NPR for the same amount sent.
Sending 500 units through Operator A at a rate of 140 (fee 5) credits Rs 69,300; the same amount through Operator B at 139 (fee 0) credits Rs 69,500. Operator B wins by Rs 200 on this transfer — the receiver pays no fee either way, so this gap is the whole cost of picking the wrong operator.
Full comparison
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operator A — net NPR received | Rs 69,300 |
| Operator A — effective rate | 138.600 |
| Operator B — net NPR received | Rs 69,500 |
| Operator B — effective rate | 139.000 |
Enter today's quoted rate and fee from each operator — rates move daily, so nothing here is a live quote. The optional reference rate (e.g. NRB's published rate) unlocks the cost-percent line, using the World Bank Remittance Prices methodology. Receiving in Nepal is free everywhere; landing the money in a remittance savings account typically earns about 1% more interest than a regular one — see the linked guide. Skip hundi: it can look cheaper but is illegal, with forfeiture and a fine of up to 3x the amount if caught.
How the math works
Each quote is a rate (NPR credited per unit of foreign currency) and a flat fee taken off the amount before conversion. The calculator multiplies what's left after the fee by the rate to get the NPR credited, and the operator that delivers more NPR for the same amount sent wins — that's the entire comparison, since receiving is free everywhere in Nepal.
What this calculator leaves out
It doesn't fetch live exchange rates — you supply today's quotes, since rates move daily and any hardcoded number here would be wrong within a day. It also doesn't model wallet or cash-pickup transaction limits, or the extra interest a remittance savings account earns over time — see the linked guides for those.
Frequently asked
- Does the family in Nepal pay a fee to receive remittance?
- No. Cash pickup, bank deposit, and wallet load are all free to the receiver — IME, Prabhu, Western Union, and the rest deliver in NPR at zero charge on that side. The real cost is upstream: the sender's fee and the exchange-rate margin the operator adds on top of NRB's reference rate.
- How do I compare two remittance operators fairly?
- Ignore the advertised 'zero fee' banner and compare the effective NPR credited per unit of foreign currency sent. Ask each operator today's rate and any flat fee, put both into this calculator, and the one that delivers more NPR for the same amount sent is the cheaper one — that's the whole comparison.
- What is the cost-percent figure based on?
- It follows the World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide methodology: the gap between what the amount would be worth at a reference rate (e.g. NRB's published rate) and what was actually credited, as a percentage. It only appears if you enter a reference rate — without one, there's nothing to measure the quote against.
- Should remittance land in a regular savings account?
- Usually not the best option. Most Nepali banks offer a remittance savings account that pays roughly 1% more interest than an ordinary one, restricted to verified foreign-employment deposits — exactly what a remittance transfer is. For money that won't be touched for years, NRB's Foreign Employment Saving Bond pays more still.
- Is hundi actually cheaper?
- It can quote a slightly better rate because it skips the margin entirely, but it's illegal under the Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act — the money can be forfeited, with a fine of up to three times the amount and possible imprisonment, and there's no recourse if the operator disappears with the cash. The legal channel's cost has also fallen close to South Asia's already-low regional average, so the gap is small and shrinking.
The numbers behind the sliders
A calculator gives you the shape of the decision; these guides give you the current Nepali numbers to feed it.
Import your bank statements, watch the actual monthly surplus, and check it against the number you just slid to. Free, built for Nepali banks and wallets.
Start tracking free