Wave vs Orange Money in Côte d'Ivoire vs MTN
Rates verified 20 June 2026 from operator schedules and momocalc data.
Wave vs Orange Money: which is cheaper in Côte d'Ivoire in 2026?
Sending in Côte d'Ivoire, Wave is free (vs 1% Orange and MTN). On withdrawals, all three charge 1%, but Orange and MTN cap lower (FCFA4,500) than Wave (FCFA5,000) — they win on large cash-outs. Rates verified 20 June 2026; use the calculator below to compare your amount.
Comparison table
| Fee | WAVWave | ORGOrange | MTNMTN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send / domestic transfer | Free | 1% (cap FCFA4,500) | 1% (cap FCFA4,500) |
| Withdrawal (cash-out) | 1% (cap FCFA5,000) | 1% (cap FCFA4,500) | 1% (cap FCFA4,500) |
| Merchant payment | Free (customer side) | Free (customer side) | Free (customer side) |
| Cross-border UEMOA transfer | ~1.5% | ~1.5% | ~1.5% |
| Fee cap | FCFA5 000 | FCFA4 500 | FCFA4 500 |
| Government levy | None | None | None |
Which is cheaper?
To SEND, Wave is cheapest (free). To WITHDRAW, the operators tie on rate (1%), but Orange Money caps lower (1% (cap FCFA4,500)) than Wave (1% (cap FCFA5,000)) — Orange wins on large cash-outs.
Calculate your exact cost
Pick the operator, operation and amount to compare live.
Worked example: FCFA50,000 a month
| Operator | Send/mo | Withdraw/mo | Withdraw/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | Free | FCFA500 | FCFA6,000 |
| Orange | FCFA500 | FCFA500 | FCFA6,000 |
| MTN | FCFA500 | FCFA500 | FCFA6,000 |
Which to choose for your use
In Côte d'Ivoire it is a three-way race. Wave wins on free transfers, perfect for P2P and splitting costs among friends. Orange Money and MTN MoMo keep the edge on merchant acceptance — QR payments at shops — and on rural agent density. To pay a merchant or cash out far from the big cities, the incumbent networks are still more widely accepted.