TL;DR: Walmart operates money transfer services in the United States through two primary products: Walmart2World, powered by MoneyGram and available for international transfers to over 200 countries from Walmart Money Centers and customer service desks, and domestic money transfers powered by Ria Money Transfer for transfers within the US. Walmart2World fees are competitive within the cash-based transfer market, starting at $4.00 for transfers up to $50 and scaling to a maximum of $16.00 for transfers between $901 and $2,500, the maximum per-transaction limit. Transfers to Mexico carry a dedicated fee schedule. The exchange rate applied to international transfers includes a margin above mid-market. For cost comparison, digital-first providers including Wise and Remitly are generally cheaper than Walmart for most corridors when total cost including the exchange rate margin is considered.
Walmart Money Transfer Services: The Two Products
Walmart operates money transfer services at its US locations through partnerships with licensed money transfer operators rather than as a money transfer operator itself. For international transfers, Walmart partners with MoneyGram through the Walmart2World branded product, available at Walmart Money Centers and customer service desks in approximately 4,700 Walmart US locations. For domestic transfers within the United States, Walmart partners with Ria Money Transfer, allowing customers to send money to recipients at any other Walmart location for cash pickup. Both services are in-person, cash-based products designed for customers who need to send money without access to or preference for digital platforms. The services are regulated through MoneyGram's and Ria's money transmitter licences rather than Walmart's own financial licences, and consumer protections apply through the licensed operators.
Walmart2World: International Money Transfers via MoneyGram
Walmart2World uses MoneyGram's international agent network and payment infrastructure to facilitate transfers from Walmart US locations to recipients in over 200 countries. The product was developed as a more affordable alternative to MoneyGram's standard agent pricing, providing Walmart customers with reduced fees compared to what MoneyGram charges through its non-Walmart agents. The service is available to any person aged 18 or older who can present a government-issued photo ID and pay the transfer amount plus the service fee in cash or with a Walmart MoneyCard. The recipient receives the transferred funds through MoneyGram's global network, either as a bank account deposit or as cash pickup at a MoneyGram agent location in the destination country. Availability of bank deposit versus cash pickup delivery depends on the specific destination country's MoneyGram network infrastructure.
Walmart2World Fee Schedule for 2025
Walmart2World fees are structured in transfer amount bands with a flat fee applying within each band. For transfers to most international destinations except Mexico, the fee schedule is as follows. Transfers from $1.01 to $50.00 carry a fee of $4.00. Transfers from $50.01 to $1,000.00 carry a fee of $8.00. Transfers from $1,000.01 to $1,500.00 carry a fee of $12.00. Transfers from $1,500.01 to $2,500.00 carry a fee of $16.00. The maximum single transfer through Walmart2World is $2,500. These fees represent the Walmart transaction fee and do not include the exchange rate margin that applies when the transfer involves a currency conversion, which is the additional cost embedded in the exchange rate offered at the time of the transaction. The exchange rate applied to Walmart2World transfers includes a margin above the mid-market rate that varies by destination currency and contributes to the total effective cost of the transfer alongside the flat fee.
Walmart to Mexico Transfer Fees
Transfers to Mexico carry a separate, more competitive fee schedule reflecting the high volume of the US to Mexico remittance corridor, which is the largest single remittance corridor in the world by dollar volume. For transfers to Mexico, the fee is $4.00 for amounts up to $200.00. Transfers between $200.01 and $500.00 carry a fee of $8.00. Transfers between $500.01 and $2,500.00 carry a fee of $16.00. The Mexico corridor is specifically priced to be competitive with the many services targeting this route given the volume of US-based Mexican diaspora senders. Recipients in Mexico can receive funds for cash pickup at Walmart Mexico locations and participating bank partners, as well as direct deposit to Mexican bank accounts at participating institutions.
Domestic Money Transfers at Walmart via Ria
Walmart also facilitates domestic money transfers within the United States through a partnership with Ria Money Transfer. This service enables cash-in at any Walmart location and cash pickup by the recipient at any other Walmart location in the country. Domestic transfer fees through this service are structured to be competitive within the cash-to-cash domestic transfer market. The service is particularly useful for transferring cash to family members in different US cities who do not have bank accounts or digital payment access. Identification is required for both the sender and for the recipient at pickup. The service uses Ria's money transmitter licences and consumer protection infrastructure.
The Exchange Rate on Walmart International Transfers
The total cost of a Walmart2World international transfer includes both the flat transaction fee and the exchange rate margin embedded in the offered rate at the time of the transaction. When sending USD to a destination country in a different currency, the exchange rate applied by MoneyGram through the Walmart2World product includes a markup above the interbank mid-market rate. This markup varies by currency pair but typically ranges from 1 to 3 percent above mid-market for major corridors including Mexico, India, and the Philippines. The combination of the flat fee and the exchange rate margin constitutes the total effective cost of the transfer. For a $500 transfer to Mexico with an $8 flat fee and a 2 percent exchange rate margin, the total effective cost is $8 plus $10, equalling $18 or 3.6 percent of the send amount. Digital providers typically deliver better total effective cost on equivalent corridors.
Walmart vs Competitors: How Fees and Rates Compare
Walmart2World fees are competitive within the in-person, cash-based transfer market and are positioned below MoneyGram's standard non-Walmart agent pricing. However, when the exchange rate margin is included in the comparison, digital providers including Wise and Remitly deliver lower total effective costs on most corridors for consumers who have bank accounts and internet access. Wise applies the mid-market rate with a transparent fee of 0.41 to 1.0 percent for major pairs, delivering significantly more to the recipient than Walmart2World on equivalent transfer amounts. Remitly charges fees below $4.99 on most corridors with a modest exchange rate margin, also typically cheaper than Walmart on total effective cost. Western Union and MoneyGram's standard agent fees are generally higher than Walmart2World for equivalent transfer amounts, making Walmart competitive within the cash transfer market even if not the lowest-cost option overall. The relevant comparison for any specific transfer is always the recipient amount rather than the stated fee, as the exchange rate margin can vary significantly between providers on the same day for the same corridor.
Who Should Use Walmart for Money Transfers?
Walmart money transfer services are most appropriate for consumers who need to send cash without access to a bank account, a debit card connected to an online account, or sufficient digital literacy to use a mobile transfer app. The Walmart store network of approximately 4,700 US locations provides geographic accessibility in communities where other transfer services may not have agent locations. Walmart2World is also practical for senders who need same-day cash availability for their recipient and whose recipient is near a MoneyGram cash pickup location in the destination country. For consumers with bank accounts and smartphone access, digital providers including Wise and Remitly consistently deliver better recipient amounts at lower total effective cost than Walmart2World for most corridors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Walmart charge to send money internationally?
Walmart2World charges a flat fee based on the transfer amount: $4.00 for transfers up to $50, $8.00 for transfers from $50.01 to $1,000, $12.00 for transfers from $1,000.01 to $1,500, and $16.00 for transfers from $1,500.01 to $2,500. Mexico has a separate fee schedule starting at $4.00 for transfers up to $200. These are the transaction fees only and do not include the exchange rate margin applied to currency conversions, which is an additional cost embedded in the offered exchange rate at the time of the transaction.
What is the maximum amount I can send through Walmart2World?
The maximum single transfer through Walmart2World is $2,500 per transaction. There may also be daily and rolling period limits that apply based on identification provided and the specific destination country's regulatory requirements. Consumers needing to send amounts above $2,500 in a single transaction must use a different transfer service or split the transaction across multiple smaller transfers, subject to any applicable daily limits.
What ID do I need to send money at Walmart?
A valid government-issued photo ID is required to send money at Walmart. Acceptable forms of identification include a US driver's licence, state-issued photo ID, US passport, US passport card, or foreign government-issued passport. A Social Security Number may be required for transfers above defined thresholds under Bank Secrecy Act requirements. The recipient must also present a valid photo ID when collecting cash pickup funds at a MoneyGram agent location.
How long does a Walmart money transfer take to arrive?
Walmart2World transfers funded by cash at the Walmart store are typically available for cash pickup by the recipient within minutes for most destinations. The availability time depends on the destination country's MoneyGram network processing and whether the recipient is collecting at a cash pickup agent location or receiving a bank account deposit. Bank deposit delivery times vary by destination country's local banking system, typically one to three business days. Cash pickup is typically faster than bank deposit for Walmart2World transfers in most markets.
Is Walmart cheaper than Western Union for sending money?
Walmart2World fees are generally lower than Western Union's standard agent fees for equivalent transfer amounts. However, the total effective cost comparison must include the exchange rate margin applied by each provider. On corridors where both providers offer competitive rates, Walmart2World is typically more cost-effective than Western Union. Both are more expensive than digital providers such as Wise and Remitly on total effective cost for consumers who can access digital platforms. The most accurate comparison for any specific transfer is to use the recipient amount shown by each provider's calculator for your specific transfer amount, destination, and delivery method.
Sources
Walmart: Money Transfer Services: https://www.walmart.com/cp/money-transfers/632950
Wise: Walmart Money Transfer Review: https://wise.com/us/blog/walmart-money-transfer
