Airtel Money Charges in Zambia
🇿🇲 ZMW (K) · Including all taxes
Airtel Money is one of the leading mobile money services in Zambia, serving millions of users. Sending carries no operator fee up to K150, then banded fees apply above; a government levy also applies. Note that Zambia 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 Zambia in 2026?
On Airtel Money in Zambia, receiving is free. Sending money is free K5–K150, then K150.01–K300 costs K0.5, up to K5 on larger amounts. Cashing out costs K3 up to K50, up to K60 on larger amounts. A state tax also applies (Mobile Money Transaction Levy). Tariffs verified against the operator source (June 2026).
Airtel Money Send Money Fee Tiers in Zambia
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| Free | Free Free |
| K150.01 - K300 | K0.5 K 0.50 |
| K300.01 - K600 | K0.8 K 0.80 |
| K600.01 - K1,200 | K1 K 1 |
| K1,200.01 - K3,000 | K2 K 2 |
| K3,000.01 - K5,000 | K3 K 3 |
| K5,000.01 - K10,000 | K4 K 4 |
| K10,000.01+ | K5 K 5 |
Airtel Money Withdrawal (Cash-Out) Fee Tiers in Zambia
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| K1 - K50 | K3 K 3.00 |
| K50.01 - K500 | K7 K 7.00 |
| K500.01 - K1,500 | K15 K 15.00 |
| K1,500.01 - K3,000 | K25 K 25.00 |
| K3,000.01 - K5,000 | K40 K 40.00 |
| K5,000.01+ | K60 K 60.00 |
Zambia Mobile Money 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.
Paid by sender
About Airtel Money in Zambia
Zambia's wallets are MTN MoMo, Airtel Money and Zamtel Kwacha, in a kwacha driven by the copper price. Tariffs are banded and fairly close across operators; agent coverage, denser for MTN and Airtel, often decides more than the fee.
On pricing, here is how Airtel Money structures its fees. Sending is priced by band : free K5–K150; flat K0.5 K150.01–K300; flat K0.8 K300.01–K600; flat K1 K600.01–K1,200. Cash-out is priced by band : flat K3 K1–K50; flat K7 K50.01–K500; flat K15 K500.01–K1,500; flat K25 K1,500.01–K3,000. Receiving money is free; the cost sits at sending and at cashing out to physical cash.
Government levy. Zambia applies a government levy (Mobile Money Transaction Levy) 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 Zambia for your exact amount, use the calculator at the top of this page or open the Zambia page. Tariffs rendered from our database, verified in 2026.
Airtel Money vs Other Providers in Zambia: Fee Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Airtel Money charge to send money in Zambia?
Airtel Money carries no operator fee up to K150 in Zambia, then banded fees apply above; a government levy also applies.
What are the Airtel Money withdrawal fees in Zambia?
Airtel Money withdrawal fees in Zambia are K3 per transaction.
Is there a government levy on Airtel Money transactions in Zambia?
Yes. Zambia applies a Mobile Money Transaction Levy on mobile money transactions.
What is the Airtel Money USSD code in Zambia?
Use the Airtel Money mobile app or visit an authorized agent in Zambia.
Is Airtel Money the cheapest mobile money provider in Zambia?
It depends on the amount. Use the MomoCalc calculator on the Zambia page to compare all providers for your specific amount.