Fact checked
When you’re wanting to send money to family or friends in Sri Lanka, it’s important to be on the lookout for cheap exchange rates, low fees and a simple transfer process. Compare a range of international money transfer providers here with Savvy to help you find the best exchange rates and lowest fees available. Consider a range of options with us before getting your international money transfer underway today.
OFX |
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Special Offer: 5 fee free transfers (saving you up to $75 in fees) + preferential rates for international money transfersMore details |
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Enjoy $40 bonus on your first money transfers of $250 & above! Use code*: SAVVY20X2 (Minimum transfer of AUD 250 Valid till 31st August 2023)More details |
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Xe |
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Xe is a 2021 Canstar Award Winner and offers the best exchange rates, low to no fees so customers save the most moneyMore details |
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Western Union Money Transfer |
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Send money to over 200 countries and territories across the world onlineMore details |
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Wise Money Transfer |
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Send money cheaper and easier with Wise with no hidden fees.More details |
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TorFX |
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Excellent exchange rates with no transfer fees. Trusted by over 325,000 customers. Awarded Canstar’s 5 star rating 2018-2021.More details |
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Currencyfair |
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Send money overseas at better exchange rates, with no hidden fees.More details |
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Remitly |
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Remitly offers fast, safe and secure money transfers with excellent rates to over 100 countriesMore details |
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Revolut |
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Fast and easy, with super competitive rates across all major currencies. Join 25+ million customers saving on global transfers.More details |
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Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.
If you decide to initiate a money transfer with one of the providers listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the provider offering that product.
There are numerous ways to send money to Sri Lanka from Australia. Out of all these options, though, using an online international money transfer specialist will be your quickest and cheapest, as such companies charge lower fees and will give you a better exchange rate than most banks will. In some cases, you can have your funds arrive at your destination in seconds without having to pay significant fees to do so.
Savvy is partnered with a range of reputable international money transfer specialists who cater for a wide range of money transfer needs – from sending money home to family and friends to making regular payments to buy goods or services. Which one of these companies will be the right one for your individual needs will depend on how much you need to send to Sri Lanka and how often you intend to make such transfers. Start comparing your international money transfer options right now with Savvy and get your transfer underway in minutes.
Some of the other different types of transfers include:
Banks
If you send an international transfer through a bank, it’ll take between three and five days to arrive on average, which is significantly slower than a specialist provider. In addition, banks can charge fees up to $30 or more to complete a transfer, making them a much more expensive alternative to opting for a specialist provider.
Cash transfers
If your transfer is urgent and you’re prepared to pay a higher fee and get a less advantageous exchange rate, you can send cash to Sri Lanka almost instantly with a cash transfer. Select providers can get a cash transfer to many (but not all) places in Sri Lanka immediately for someone to collect in person on the other end. While this isn’t likely to be the most affordable option compared to specialist provider transfers, you may look to a cash transfer if your recipient in Sri Lanka doesn’t have a bank account.
PayPal (Xoom)
Unfortunately, PayPal’s international payment system Xoom isn’t available to Australians and can’t transfer in Australian dollars. However, it’s possible to open an international account through a specialist provider and use it to send money through Xoom using US dollars or another accepted currency such as the British pound or Euro. This service will also often provide a less competitive exchange rate compared to money transfer specialists, as well as face delays to have the money transferred from their Xoom account to their bank account.
Phone top-ups
Another option for recipients without a bank account is to send money to them using a phone top-up (also known as a phone recharge or reload). However, the exchange rate you will receive to send your transfer will often be poor compared to an international transfer company and the fees charged can be more expensive. Additionally, this money can’t be used freely as cash in the same way as a standard money transfer can.
Exchange rates
There are always two values that make up the exchange rate on the international money market: the buy price and the sell price. The halfway point between these two figures is known as the ‘mid-market rate’, which forms the basic exchange rate offered to retail customers. Make sure you get as close as possible to the mid-market exchange rate to ensure you get the cheapest exchange deal possible. Even a small increase in the exchange rate can result in more money being sent to your recipient, particularly for larger transfers.
Fees charged for the transfer
There are two basic ways that companies charge to make an international transfer: either a set fee or one based on a percentage of the transfer. Set fees range from around $6 up to $15. A percentage fee is based on how much you want to transfer and can range from 0.4% up to 0.65%. By comparison, credit cards can charge from 3% to 5% as a fee for international transfers. Some companies charge a smaller percentage fee and add a markup onto the exchange rate. Overall, though, they still work out to be far cheaper than using a conventional bank.
For example, look at the following table to see how fees and exchange rates affect how much money is received in Sri Lanka if you send $100.
| Transfer provider | Fee charged AUD $ | Exchange rate offered | Recipient receives LKR | Difference from best to worst LKR |
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Bank 1 |
Set fee $6 |
205.446 |
19,311.94 |
-5,543.64 |
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Bank 2 |
Set fee $10 |
240.550 |
21,766.26 |
-3,206.11 |
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Transfer provider 1 |
% fee $2.99 |
247.225 |
23,983.30 |
-872.28 |
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Transfer provider 2 |
% fee $1.89 |
253.344 |
24,855.58 |
N/A - best result |
* Note: the mid-market rate for the day was 253.344. These rates are representative only and are not intended to be a guide.
We can glean various facts from this table:
Serviceability
Not all exchange companies deal in all currencies or offer a service to all countries, so make sure the one you choose does deal in LKR and can conduct a transfer to Sri Lanka.
Payment limits
Check whether the company you choose has minimum or maximum limits for transfers to Sri Lanka and whether these fit in with your transfer requirements. For example, some have a minimum transfer limit of $250, but others set it at just $1. Some providers set daily limits, such as $5,000, whereas you can also find options where the maximum is closer to $500,000 or more.
Payment for your transfer
Decide whether you want to pay by direct debit from your bank account, using a credit card, a debit card with EFTPOS, through a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or in cash. Which method you choose will also determine which transfer company is best for you, as not all companies will accept credit cards or Apple Pay.
How will my transfer be received?
Think about how you want the money to be received in Sri Lanka: transferred to a bank account, collected in cash, or paid into an app or digital wallet? A transfer from one bank account to another is the most common, and often the cheapest, option. When comparing, check the service you choose offers the transfer method you require.
Setting up an account with an international transfer company is similar to opening a bank account.
There's no need to pay a dollar to compare money transfer services with Savvy, as you can do so for free at any time.
You can compare offers with competitive exchange rates, fees and transfer speeds in minutes with us.
We're partnered with trusted and licensed money transfer companies to bring more quality to your comparisons.
It’s a good idea to start studying the exchange rate between the Australian dollar and the Sri Lanka rupee days before you need to make the transfer. This way, you’ll be familiar with what a good exchange rate looks like and you’ll be able to recognise the patterns of the rupee exchange rate more effectively.
If you’re going to be transferring money to Sri Lanka often, it’s worth looking at the various currency tools on offer from different transfer providers. These range from alerts, which can tell you when a particular exchange rate has been reached, to limit orders, which only put through your order when a pre-defined exchange rate is achieved. Using such tools can give you the edge and make sure you get the best exchange rate for your transfer.
Some international money transfer companies offer an international account in which you can store different currencies. You can use this to your advantage by exchanging a larger sum of money when the exchange rate is strong and storing it in your account as rupees until needed to send to Sri Lanka later on.
It’s only by comparing international money transfer providers often with Savvy that you’ll get to know which company is the best one to use for your transfer. Compare the exchange rate and fees being charged for both personal and business transfers so you can find the cheapest one for your transfer.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
