How much does it cost to send money with a stablecoin?

The on-chain network fee for a stablecoin transfer ranges from a few dollars on congested chains to a fraction of a cent on payments-first chains like Tempo, which targets fees under $0.001. On- and off-ramp fees apply separately when converting to or from local cash.

Is a stablecoin cheaper than a bank wire?

For the transfer itself, almost always. An international wire typically costs a $25–$45 flat fee plus a 1–3% FX spread, while a stablecoin network fee is cents or less. The trade-off is that you handle the on/off-ramp yourself, whereas a wire is end-to-end.

Why is Tempo the cheapest option in the calculator?

Tempo is a payments-first chain with no native gas token — fees are paid in USD stablecoins and target under $0.001 — so its network fee is the lowest here. Solana and Base are also sub-cent. The calculator uses illustrative reference values; confirm current fees before transacting.

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Cost

Payment cost calculator

What does it actually cost to move money? Enter an amount and compare a bank wire, a card, a money-transfer service, and a stablecoin transfer across the major chains.

Amount to send

Stablecoin rail

Compares the transfer cost of traditional rails against sending a stablecoin over your chosen chain.

Stablecoin on Tempocheapest< $0.01

Sub-second (deterministic)

Card payment$29.30

Seconds to authorise, days to settle

Money transfer service$43.00

Minutes to 1 day

International bank wire$55.00

1–4 business days

On a $1,000 transfer, the spread between the dearest and cheapest option here is $55.00.

Figures are illustrative reference values (reviewed 2026-06-09), not live quotes. Traditional cross-border costs fold in a typical FX spread; stablecoin figures are the on-chain network fee only — on- and off-ramp fees apply when converting to or from local cash, and vary by provider and corridor.

The headline story is consistent across corridors: traditional cross-border rails carry a flat fee plus an FX spread, while a stablecoin transfer is a near-zero network fee. The nuance the number hides — gas tokens, finality, and on/off-ramp friction — is what the chain comparator and the stablecoin vs wire transfer explainer pick apart.

Citations

Sources

Answer-first

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to send money with a stablecoin?: The on-chain network fee for a stablecoin transfer ranges from a few dollars on congested chains to a fraction of a cent on payments-first chains like Tempo, which targets fees under $0.001. On- and off-ramp fees apply separately when converting to or from local cash.
Is a stablecoin cheaper than a bank wire?: For the transfer itself, almost always. An international wire typically costs a $25–$45 flat fee plus a 1–3% FX spread, while a stablecoin network fee is cents or less. The trade-off is that you handle the on/off-ramp yourself, whereas a wire is end-to-end.
Why is Tempo the cheapest option in the calculator?: Tempo is a payments-first chain with no native gas token — fees are paid in USD stablecoins and target under $0.001 — so its network fee is the lowest here. Solana and Base are also sub-cent. The calculator uses illustrative reference values; confirm current fees before transacting.