Best USD to KES Rate for Airtel Money

Get the most Kenyan Shillings for your dollars when sending to Airtel Money. Live rates updated daily.

Updated: Feb 20266 min read

💰 Today's Best USD to KES Rates

~129.0
KES per USD
Wise (Best Rate)
~128.2
KES per USD
Remitly
~127.1
KES per USD
WorldRemit
Check Live Rates for Airtel Money →

USD to KES Rate Comparison for Airtel Money 📊

Live Rate Comparison (Updated Daily)

ProviderExchange RateFee$100 GetsSpeed
🥇
Wise
Best Rate
129.0 KES$4.14 + 0.5%KES 12,8361-4 hours
🥈
Remitly
Fastest
128.2 KES$0 (1st) / $3.99KES 12,82015-30 min
🥉
WorldRemit
Reliable
127.1 KES$2.99KES 12,6821 hour

💡 Pro Tip: For amounts over $500, even a 0.5 KES difference per dollar saves you significant money. Wise typically offers the best rates due to their mid-market rate pricing.

How Exchange Rates Impact Your Airtel Money Transfer 💸

✅ Best Rate Impact ($1,000)

Wise (129.0 KES/USD):KES 128,360
Bank rate (125.5 KES/USD):KES 125,500
You save:KES 2,860
That's $22 more to your recipient!

📊 Rate Difference Examples

$100 transfer:Up to KES 250 difference
$500 transfer:Up to KES 1,250 difference
$1,000 transfer:Up to KES 2,500 difference
Always compare rates before sending!

Why Choose Airtel Money? 📱

Airtel Money serves over 8 million Kenyans with competitive rates and wide acceptance. Perfect for recipients who prefer Airtel's network and services.

🔥 Airtel Advantages

  • High limits - KES 500,000 wallet
  • Low costs - Competitive transaction fees
  • Wide network - 8M+ active users
  • Easy access - USSD, app, agents

💳 Airtel Money Features

  • • Bill payments and top-ups
  • • Merchant payments
  • • Bank transfers
  • • Cash withdrawal at agents

📋 Required Info

  • • Recipient's name (exact match)
  • • Airtel Money phone number
  • • Your ID for verification
  • • Transfer reason/purpose

Best Providers for USD to KES Airtel Money

🥇

Wise (Best Overall Rate)

128.5 KES per USD

$4.14
+ 0.5% fee

Why Wise wins: Uses real mid-market exchange rate with transparent, low fees.

  • ✅ Best USD to KES rate available
  • ✅ Transparent pricing model
  • ✅ Regulated and trusted globally

Transfer Details

Delivery: 1-4 hours

$1,000 gets you:

KES 127,864

Get Best Rate with Wise

Remitly (Fastest Delivery)

127.8 KES per USD

$0
First transfer

Why choose Remitly: Fastest delivery to Airtel Money with excellent customer service.

  • ✅ Express delivery in 15-30 minutes
  • ✅ First transfer completely free
  • ✅ 99.9% delivery success rate

Transfer Details

Delivery: 15-30 minutes

$1,000 gets you:

KES 127,780

Send Fast with Remitly

7 Tips to Get the Best USD to KES Rate 💡

1️⃣

Compare Multiple Providers

Rates can differ by 2-3 KES per dollar between providers.

2️⃣

Check Mid-Market Rates

Use Google or XE.com to see the real exchange rate.

3️⃣

Time Your Transfer

Rates fluctuate. Consider waiting for better rates on large amounts.

4️⃣

Avoid Hidden Fees

Some providers hide fees in poor exchange rates.

5️⃣

Use Apps for Better Rates

Mobile apps often offer better rates than websites.

6️⃣

Consider Transfer Size

Larger transfers often get better per-dollar rates.

7️⃣

Track Rate Trends

Monitor USD/KES trends to time larger transfers optimally.

💰 Pro Tip: Set up rate alerts to notify you when USD/KES reaches your target rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the current best USD to KES rate for Airtel Money?

Today's best rate is approximately 128.5 KES per USD with Wise. Rates update throughout the day, so check live rates before sending.

How much can I save by choosing the best rate?

Rate differences can save you KES 2,000-3,000 on a $1,000 transfer. That's $15-25 more money reaching your recipient's Airtel Money wallet.

Why do rates vary between providers?

Each provider sets their own margin above the mid-market rate. Traditional banks typically have the worst rates, while digital services like Wise offer rates closer to market rates.

How often do USD to KES rates change?

Exchange rates fluctuate constantly during market hours. Most providers update their rates multiple times per day, with some updating every few minutes.

Latest USD to KES Conversion Rates

Here are some latest USD to KES (United States USD to Kenya KES) exchange rates for popular conversion amounts*.

1.00 USD129.50 KES
5.00 USD647.50 KES
10.00 USD1,295.00 KES
25.00 USD3,237.50 KES
50.00 USD6,475.00 KES
100.00 USD12,950.00 KES
150.00 USD19,425.00 KES
200.00 USD25,900.00 KES
250.00 USD32,375.00 KES
300.00 USD38,850.00 KES
400.00 USD51,800.00 KES
500.00 USD64,750.00 KES
600.00 USD77,700.00 KES
700.00 USD90,650.00 KES
800.00 USD103,600.00 KES
1,000.00 USD129,500.00 KES
1,500.00 USD194,250.00 KES
2,000.00 USD259,000.00 KES
2,500.00 USD323,750.00 KES
3,000.00 USD388,500.00 KES
4,000.00 USD518,000.00 KES
5,000.00 USD647,500.00 KES
10,000.00 USD1,295,000.00 KES
15,000.00 USD1,942,500.00 KES
20,000.00 USD2,590,000.00 KES
30,000.00 USD3,885,000.00 KES
40,000.00 USD5,180,000.00 KES
50,000.00 USD6,475,000.00 KES
100,000.00 USD12,950,000.00 KES

*These are mid-market exchange rates. Actual rates from providers will include fees and margins.

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 129.50 KES

Last updated: Feb 26, 2026

Source: ExchangeRate-API.com

Ready to Get the Best USD to KES Rate?

Compare live rates and save money on your Airtel Money transfer