USD → TRY
Cheapest way to send money to Turkey
The most common way to send money to Turkey is directly to a Turkish bank account. To send money to someone in Turkey, you’ll need the recipient's full name, occupation, and a 26-character IBAN starting with TR.
It is pretty straightforward for foreigners to open bank accounts in Turkey. You’ll need a passport, local phone number, tax number, and proof of address. If you’re living in Turkey, sending money to a Turkish bank will be the cheapest way to spend.
Cash pickup is also available. This can be a convenient option but it comes with a higher fee. One benefit of cash pickup is that some services allow the cash to be picked up in US Dollars or Euros, instead of Turkish lira. This is nice during times when inflation is high.
If you’re traveling to Turkey, the most convenient option is to withdraw Turkish lira from ATMs. Getting money is kind of expensive in Turkey. ATM fees are kind of high and ATM limits are pretty low. You’ll have to make more transactions than usual. Spending with a zero-fee travel credit card is the cheapest option. Exchanging cash in Turkey is also expensive. Most forex bureaus charge a high markup.
It’s also important to note that inflation is a consideration in Turkey. It’s not as bad as it was a few years ago but the lira has been losing value steadily for years. The rate you convert at moves noticeably over months. Holding lira you do not need yet has a real cost. It’s best to convert money to lira right before your trip and convert any remaining lira back to a more stable currency.
Checked . Fee figures are typical estimates, not live quotes. Change them in the calculator if you know your exact fees.
01
The transfer
How much, and which two currencies.
Not in the list? Choose “Enter my own…” and type the 3-letter code (GEL, VND, COP…).
02
How the money moves
Sending to someone else and spending your own money there are different questions. Pick one from the matching group.
To someone else
Your own money there
Loading live rate…
After fees · Wise
1 USD = 47.71 TRY
Mid-market is 48.00.
Adjust feesThese are typical estimates, not official numbers from the company›
Sending $1,000 to someone in Turkey
Money leaves you and arrives with them in Turkish lira. Sorted cheapest first. “Cost” is the fee plus whatever the rate is worse than mid-market, which is the part most comparisons leave out.
| Method | Cost | They receive |
|---|---|---|
| WisecheapestWise allows you to send money to Turkish bank accounts. They charge a small flat fee that is usually less than $1.50 and a variable percentage fee that is usually around 0.24%-0.5%. The flat fee depends on the currency you're converting from and the payment method you use. The variable fee changes with the market. There is also a charge to fund your Wise account. Transfers from money that is already in your Wise account are the cheapest. Bank transfers are the second cheapest option. Debit card transfers are a bit more expensive. Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate so there are no surprise fees. Wise only allows you to send money to another Wise account or a Turkish bank account. | $6.000.6% | 47,712TRY |
| Taptap SendTapTapSend is often the cheapest option for sending small amounts of money to Turkey. They do not charge a percentage fee. They have a low markup of around 0.7% on average. TapTapSend only accepts debit cards to fund transfers. You can send to Turkish bank accounts and they offer cash pickup. You can send cash to be picked up as TRY, USD, or EUR. This can be convenient for some transactions. | $8.980.9% | 47,569TRY |
| RemitlyRemitly charges a flat fee of $2.99 to send money to Turkey. They also charge a markup of 0.5%-1.5% on each transfer. There is an economy rate with a lower markup but money takes 3-5 days to arrive. There is an express rate with a higher markup but money arrives in minutes. You can send to Turkish bank accounts and they offer cash pickup. Remitly is a good option if you only need to send money once because they offer a promotional exchange rate for your first send. | $12.961.3% | 47,378TRY |
| RevolutRevolut works for sending money to Turkish bank accounts and other Revolut accounts. Revolut uses the mid-market rate. They operate on a subscription model. Revolut offers a fee-free allowance on all plans then charges a percentage after you go over the allowance. The allowance depends on your plan. On the standard plan, it's $1000 per month then you pay a 1% fee. Revolut also charges an additional 1% fee on all transfers during weekends. There is also a flat fee that is capped at around $5-$10 if you're sending to a Turkish bank account. There is also a fee for moving funds to your Revolut account from your debit card or bank account. It's around a 1% fee. | $15.001.5% | 47,280TRY |
| Western UnionWestern Union charges a markup of 1.5%-3.5% on the exchange rate. This is one of the higher markups. Western Union can send money to Turkish bank accounts. They also offer cash pickup. They also offer cash-to-cash service. Fees are higher for this service but it is available. Western Union is the best option for an emergency situation where you need cash fast. A cash pickup processes quickly. You can also send money as USD or EUR. | $20.002.0% | 47,040TRY |
| WorldRemitWorldRemit charges a flat fee of around $1.99-$3.99 for each transfer to Turkey. They also charge an exchange rate markup of 1%-2.5%. You can send to Turkish bank accounts. They also offer cash pickup. | $21.952.2% | 46,946TRY |
| XoomXoom does not charge a percentage fee to send money to Turkish bank accounts. Instead, they charge a markup of 2%-6% on the exchange rate. The exact percentage markup depends on where you're sending from and the market conditions. They also charge a flat fee to send from a debit card, credit card, or bank account. The fee is $0-$4.99 if you send from a bank account. If you send from a debit card, the flat fee is between $2.99 and $9.99. If you send from a credit card, the fee is around $15-$25. There is no flat fee if you use the PayPal stablecoin. Xoom is one of the more expensive options. | $34.843.5% | 46,328TRY |
| Bank wireA flat wire fee of around $50, plus a markup of roughly 1%-4% on the exchange rate. For this reason, a bank wire transfer to Turkey only makes sense for large transactions. | $78.507.8% | 44,232TRY |
On $1,000, Wise costs about $6.00 and Bank wire about $78.50. That's a difference of $72.50 for the same money, or $870 over a year if you move this much every month.
Spending your own money in Turkey
For when you are traveling there and the money is already yours. Costs are per $1,000 converted. Remember that some cards and ATMs charge you for every transaction rather than once.
| Method | Cost | You get |
|---|---|---|
| ATM withdrawalcheapestATMs in Turkey often charge a withdrawal fee. The average fee is 150-200 lira per transaction ($3-$4). Some machines also charge steep operating fees or commissions which can range from 3%-10%. There is often a maximum withdrawal of 4,000-10,000 lira or around $80-$200. This means you'll have to make lots of transactions. The effective fees can easily reach 10%. To withdraw $1000, you would need to make 5 or more transactions. This could cost $20 in fees or more. There are some fee-free ATMs for tourists. The cheapest ATMs are usually Ziraat Bankası, Halkbank, and PTT. Your card may also charge a currency conversion fee on top of the ATM fees. This is usually 1%-3%. Some banks offer a 0% conversion fee. If the ATM asks you if you want to accept their exchange rate, always say no. They will give you a worse rate than your bank. | $30.003.0% | 46,560TRY |
| Card spendThe average spread when paying in Turkish lira with a zero-fee travel credit card is 0.1%-1%. With a regular credit card, there may be foreign transaction fees of 1%-3% on top of that spread. Credit cards are widely accepted in Turkey. Most hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and supermarkets accept card payments. You still need to carry cash because cards aren't accepted everywhere. Many taxi drivers and small shops and street food stands don't accept card payments. | $39.704.0% | 46,094TRY |
| CashThe average spread when exchanging USD to Turkish lira at a large bank or forex bureau is 3%-7%. You do have to watch the rate you get. At airports and currency exchanges in touristy areas, the spread can be as high as 10%. The markup is pretty high. It's best to only exchange cash if you're in an emergency situation. | $40.004.0% | 46,080TRY |
On $1,000, ATM withdrawal costs about $30.00 and Cash about $40.00. That's a difference of $10.00 for the same money, or $120 over a year if you move this much every month.
Figures use a rate of about 48 TRY to 1 USD; the calculator above uses the live rate.
How the money arrives in Turkey
Most common first. Which of these your recipient can actually use usually matters more than a fraction of a percent in fees.
- 1Bank transfer to a Turkish account
- 2Cash pickup at an agent
- 3Foreign card spending
Living in Turkey, not just sending money there
A transfer is one number. These work out a whole month, including what the transfers cost you over a year.
- Cost of living in Istanbul$2,125/mo