Sending money with Western Union cheaper in Germany?

I heard that the cost of sending money by Western Union is cheaper in Germany than in Switzerland. Since I use Western Union to send money to my family in the Dominican Republic many times every year, I wonder if it is worth going to Germany to do this. Is it really that much cheaper?

Hi there,

The cost of sending money via Western Union does not vary significantly between Switzerland and Germany. A quick comparison shows that sending CHF 500 at an SBB Swiss railway office will cost you CHF 15 (standard) or CHF 25 (express). Postfinance (the Swiss postal bank) charges a flat fee of CHF 12 for Western Union transfers up to CHF 300. You pay a fee equal to 4.2% of any amount above CHF 300 - so sending CHF 500 at the SBB will cost you CHF 20.40.

The German Reisebank, which has offices at Constance and Weil am Rhein near the Swiss border, charges EUR 30 to send amounts between EUR 360 and EUR 540 via Western Union. That is more than you would pay at a Postfinance or SBB office in Switzerland.

Fees for sending money via Western Union online or via the app are similar in Germany and Switzerland.

Check out the moneyland.ch guide to money transfers for more information about money transfers and alternatives.

Best regards from Moneyguru