Airtel Money Charges in Kenya
🇰🇪 KES (Ksh) · Including all taxes
Airtel Money is one of the leading mobile money services in Kenya, serving millions of users. Sending carries no operator fee up to Ksh100, then banded fees apply above; a government levy also applies. Note that Kenya applies a government levy on mobile money transactions. Use the fee tables below to see all charges including government taxes.
See Airtel Money in every country →How much does Airtel Money charge in Kenya in 2026?
On Airtel Money in Kenya, receiving is free. Sending money is free up to Ksh100, then Ksh101–Ksh500 costs Ksh7, up to Ksh108 on larger amounts. Cashing out costs Ksh11 Ksh50–Ksh100, up to Ksh309 on larger amounts. A state tax also applies (Excise Duty (15% on fee)). Tariffs verified against the operator source (June 2026).
Airtel Money Send Money Fee Tiers in Kenya
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| Free | Free Free — KES 1 to 100 |
| Ksh101 - Ksh500 | Ksh7 KES 7 |
| Ksh501 - Ksh1,000 | Ksh13 KES 13 |
| Ksh1,001 - Ksh1,500 | Ksh23 KES 23 |
| Ksh1,501 - Ksh2,500 | Ksh33 KES 33 |
| Ksh2,501 - Ksh3,500 | Ksh47 KES 47 |
| Ksh3,501 - Ksh5,000 | Ksh57 KES 57 |
| Ksh5,001 - Ksh7,500 | Ksh78 KES 78 |
| Ksh7,501 - Ksh10,000 | Ksh90 KES 90 |
| Ksh10,001 - Ksh15,000 | Ksh100 KES 100 |
| Ksh15,001 - Ksh20,000 | Ksh105 KES 105 |
| Ksh20,001 - Ksh250,000 | Ksh108 KES 108 (max fee) |
Airtel Money Withdrawal (Cash-Out) Fee Tiers in Kenya
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ksh50 - Ksh100 | Ksh11 KES 11 |
| Ksh101 - Ksh2,500 | Ksh29 KES 29 |
| Ksh2,501 - Ksh3,500 | Ksh52 KES 52 |
| Ksh3,501 - Ksh5,000 | Ksh69 KES 69 |
| Ksh5,001 - Ksh7,500 | Ksh87 KES 87 |
| Ksh7,501 - Ksh10,000 | Ksh115 KES 115 |
| Ksh10,001 - Ksh35,000 | Ksh197 KES 197 |
| Ksh35,001 - Ksh50,000 | Ksh278 KES 278 |
| Ksh50,001 - Ksh250,000 | Ksh309 KES 309 (max) |
Kenya Mobile Money Levies & Taxes
Excise Duty (15% on fee)
Levy activeKenya charges 15% excise duty on the transaction fee itself — not on the transfer amount. For example, a KES 13 M-Pesa fee becomes KES 14.95 total (KES 13 + KES 1.95 excise). The rate was raised from 12% to 15% by the Finance Act 2023. Does NOT apply to Buy Goods (Till number) transactions. The 16% VAT on person-to-person mobile money transfers proposed by the Finance Bill 2026 was DROPPED in the version passed by the National Assembly in June 2026, so no VAT applies on top of this excise.
Paid by sender
About Airtel Money in Kenya
Kenya runs on M-Pesa, Safaricom's near-ubiquitous wallet, with Airtel Money and T-Kash matching the same regulated send tariff band for band. Send pricing is a national banded tariff identical across operators, so in Kenya the choice is about M-Pesa's agent density and Lipa na M-Pesa acceptance, not the fee.
On pricing, here is how Airtel Money structures its fees. Sending is priced by band : free Ksh1–Ksh100; flat Ksh7 Ksh101–Ksh500; flat Ksh13 Ksh501–Ksh1,000; flat Ksh23 Ksh1,001–Ksh1,500. Cash-out is priced by band : flat Ksh11 Ksh50–Ksh100; flat Ksh29 Ksh101–Ksh2,500; flat Ksh52 Ksh2,501–Ksh3,500; flat Ksh69 Ksh3,501–Ksh5,000. Receiving money is free; the cost sits at sending and at cashing out to physical cash.
Government levy. Kenya applies a government levy (Excise Duty (15% on fee)) on top of the operator fee — it is already included in the calculator totals above.
How to use it. You manage Airtel Money via the mobile app, the operator's USSD menu (no internet needed), or an authorised agent to deposit and withdraw cash. Fees are identical on every channel — the schedule above applies with no per-channel surcharge, and an agent should never charge cash on top of the fee deducted from your balance.
To compare Airtel Money with the other operators in Kenya for your exact amount, use the calculator at the top of this page or open the Kenya page. Tariffs rendered from our database, verified in 2026.
Airtel Money vs Other Providers in Kenya: Fee Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Airtel Money charge to send money in Kenya?
Airtel Money carries no operator fee up to Ksh100 in Kenya, then banded fees apply above; a government levy also applies.
What are the Airtel Money withdrawal fees in Kenya?
Airtel Money withdrawal fees in Kenya are Ksh11 per transaction.
Is there a government levy on Airtel Money transactions in Kenya?
Yes. Kenya applies a Excise Duty (15% on fee) on mobile money transactions.
What is the Airtel Money USSD code in Kenya?
Use the Airtel Money mobile app or visit an authorized agent in Kenya.
Is Airtel Money the cheapest mobile money provider in Kenya?
It depends on the amount. Use the MomoCalc calculator on the Kenya page to compare all providers for your specific amount.