Zambia Mobile Money Charges
MTN, Airtel, Zamtel - including all government levies. Updated July 2026.
How much does it cost to send money via mobile money in Zambia?
In Zambia, mobile money fees vary by operator (MTN, Airtel, Zamtel) and amount band. Use the calculator below for the exact cost in ZMW, including government levies. Typical fees range from flat unit amounts to a percentage of the transfer; withdrawals usually add a separate charge.
Compare MTN, Airtel, Zamtel fees in Zambia
| Provider | Send | Withdraw | Levy | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MTNMTNCheapest | K0.80 | K7.50 | K0.80 | K1.60 |
AIRAirtelCheapest | K0.80 | K7.00 | K0.80 | K1.60 |
ZAMZamtelCheapest | K0.80 | K6.00 | K0.80 | K1.60 |
Which mobile money providers work in Zambia?
MTN MoMo
Zambia · ZMW
Send money fees
| Free tier | Free |
| K150.01-K300 | K0.5 |
| K300.01-K600 | K0.8 |
| K600.01-K1,200 | K1 |
Withdrawal fees
| K1-K50 | K3 |
| K50.01-K500 | K7.5 |
| K500.01-K1,500 | K15 |
| K1,500.01-K3,000 | K25 |
Airtel Money
Zambia · ZMW
Send money fees
| Free tier | Free |
| K150.01-K300 | K0.5 |
| K300.01-K600 | K0.8 |
| K600.01-K1,200 | K1 |
Withdrawal fees
| K1-K50 | K3 |
| K50.01-K500 | K7 |
| K500.01-K1,500 | K15 |
| K1,500.01-K3,000 | K25 |
Zamtel Kwacha
Zambia · ZMW
Send money fees
| Free tier | Free |
| K150.01-K300 | K0.5 |
| K300.01-K600 | K0.8 |
| K600.01-K1,200 | K1 |
Withdrawal fees
| K1-K50 | K2.5 |
| K50.01-K500 | K6 |
| K500.01-K1,500 | K12 |
| K1,500.01-K3,000 | K22 |
ZMW exchange rates
Livevs ZMW (Zambian Kwacha)
Government Levies & Taxes
Mobile Money Transaction Levy
Levy activeZambia's Mobile Money Transaction Levy is a fixed kwacha amount per amount band (not a percentage), charged on person-to-person transfers only and paid by the sender — cash withdrawals and merchant payments are exempt. Act No. 25 of 2024 set the first schedule (effective 1 January 2025); Amendment Act No. 22 of 2025 replaced it from 1 January 2026, raising most bands 2×–3.75×. On a K5,000 send the levy is K7.50 — more than Airtel's own K3.00 transfer fee for that band.
Effective since 2026-01-01
Source: Mobile Money Transaction Levy Act No. 25 of 2024 + Amendment Act No. 22 of 2025 (zambialii.org / parliament.gov.zm, schedules read in full); official Airtel Zambia tariff poster (eff 7 Sep 2024) · verified 2026-07-07
Fee data last verified July 2026. Always confirm with your provider before large transactions.
Sending money to Zambia?
Compare the services that deliver to Zambia - neutral verdict, no-affiliate, with the real recipient-side costs.