M-Pesa charges calculator 2026
Sending Ksh 1,000 to another M-Pesa user costs Ksh 13. Withdrawing Ksh 3,000 at an agent costs Ksh 52, and Ksh 5,000 costs Ksh 69. Sending up to Ksh 100 is free, and paying a till costs you nothing.
Rules as of October 2026. Updated .
Work out the fee
Fee to sendKsh 13on Ksh 1,000
| Sending feeYou pay it, on top of what you send. | Ksh 13 |
|---|---|
| Leaves your M-PesaThe amount plus the fee. | Ksh 1,013 |
| Fee as a share of the amount | 1.3% |
| Paying a till insteadBuy Goods tills are free for the person paying. The shop pays. | Ksh 0 |
Move Ksh 500 instead and the fee drops to Ksh 7. That is Ksh 6 less.
Fees for sending to a registered M-Pesa user and withdrawing at an agent. ATM withdrawals and some paybills charge differently.
In GrindLife Nairobi every payment comes off a phone wallet with these same fees. See how far Ksh 1,000 goes on rent, fare and food.
Play free GrindLife is a free life game on real Nairobi streets. Your wallet in the game is GrindPesa.M-Pesa charges table 2026
Sending to a registered user and withdrawing at an agent, in Ksh. Agents pay out from Ksh 50.
| Amount (Ksh) | Send | Withdraw at an agent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 100 | 0 | 11 |
| 101 to 500 | 7 | 29 |
| 501 to 1,000 | 13 | 29 |
| 1,001 to 1,500 | 23 | 29 |
| 1,501 to 2,500 | 33 | 29 |
| 2,501 to 3,500 | 53 | 52 |
| 3,501 to 5,000 | 57 | 69 |
| 5,001 to 7,500 | 78 | 87 |
| 7,501 to 10,000 | 90 | 115 |
| 10,001 to 15,000 | 100 | 167 |
| 15,001 to 20,000 | 105 | 185 |
| 20,001 to 35,000 | 108 | 197 |
| 35,001 to 50,000 | 108 | 278 |
| 50,001 to 250,000 | 108 | 309 |
Charges at common amounts
Send is what you pay. Withdraw is what they pay at the agent. Both is the money from your phone to cash in their hand.
| Amount (Ksh) | Send | Withdraw | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| 500 | 7 | 29 | 36 |
| 1,000 | 13 | 29 | 42 |
| 1,500 | 23 | 29 | 52 |
| 2,000 | 33 | 29 | 62 |
| 2,500 | 33 | 29 | 62 |
| 3,000 | 53 | 52 | 105 |
| 3,500 | 53 | 52 | 105 |
| 5,000 | 57 | 69 | 126 |
| 7,500 | 78 | 87 | 165 |
| 10,000 | 90 | 115 | 205 |
| 15,000 | 100 | 167 | 267 |
| 20,000 | 105 | 185 | 290 |
| 35,000 | 108 | 197 | 305 |
| 50,000 | 108 | 278 | 386 |
| 100,000 | 108 | 309 | 417 |
| 250,000 | 108 | 309 | 417 |
How to pay less
- Pay a till when you can. Buy Goods is free for you, so paying the mama mboga by till beats sending to her number.
- Watch the edges of the bands. Withdrawing Ksh 2,500 costs Ksh 29, but Ksh 2,600 costs Ksh 52. If the extra 100 can wait, it saves you money.
- Send once, not in pieces. Two sends of Ksh 5,000 cost twice the fee of one, but one send of Ksh 10,000 costs Ksh 90.
- If the person will cash it out, the withdrawal fee is the bigger cost. On Ksh 10,000 it is Ksh 90 to send and Ksh 115 to withdraw.
Limits
- Up to Ksh 250,000 in one transaction.
- Up to Ksh 500,000 a day.
- A balance of up to Ksh 500,000.
The words on the menu
- Send Money
- To another person's phone. You pay the fee.
- Buy Goods (till)
- Paying a shop. Free for you; the shop pays a small fee.
- Paybill
- Paying a company: rent, school fees, power, water. Many billers absorb the fee, some pass it on.
- Withdraw at an agent
- Cash out at a shop with the agent sign. The fee comes off your balance.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to withdraw Ksh 3,000 from M-Pesa?
Ksh 52 at an agent. Ksh 3,000 falls in the Ksh 2,501 to 3,500 band, so anything in that range costs the same.
What is the M-Pesa charge for sending Ksh 1,000?
Ksh 13. Every amount in the Ksh 501 to 1,000 band costs the same.
How much is it to withdraw Ksh 5,000?
Ksh 69 at an agent. Sending the same Ksh 5,000 costs Ksh 57.
How much does it cost to send Ksh 50,000?
Ksh 108. Above Ksh 20,000 the sending fee stops rising. Withdrawing Ksh 50,000 costs Ksh 278.
Is sending under Ksh 100 free?
Yes. Sending up to Ksh 100 costs nothing.
What is the most I can send on M-Pesa?
Ksh 250,000 in one transaction and Ksh 500,000 a day.
Who pays the withdrawal fee?
The person who cashes out, at the agent. If you want someone to get the full amount in cash, send a bit extra to cover it.
Does GrindLife charge the same?
Yes. GrindPesa, the phone wallet in GrindLife Nairobi, uses these same bands. GrindLife has no link to M-Pesa or its operator.
Sources
- Market research, 2026: the published mobile money tariff for sending and agent withdrawals, checked 17 October 2026.
- Central Bank of Kenya, mobile payments statistics
- National Payment System Act 2011 (Kenya Law)
- Excise Duty Act 2015 (Kenya Law)