Send Money from the USA to Jamaica: What It Really Costs in 2026
Jamaicans abroad sent home nearly $3.5 billion in 2025, about two-thirds of it from the United States, and by the Bank of Jamaica's count remittances are worth about 15% of the island's economy. Here is what a transfer costs on your amount, and what your family needs at the other end to collect it.
Two Choices That Set the Price
Two choices settle most of what a transfer to Jamaica costs: the service you pick for your amount, and whether the money lands in a bank account or at a pickup counter. Taptap Send comes in under every other standing price for $500 to a Jamaican bank account, at about $5.89 all-in; next are Paysend at about $10.16 and MoneyGram at about $12.03. Taptap Send charges a $1.99 fee plus a 0.78% rate margin on this route.
The spread on this route is wide: among the eight standing prices for a $1,000 transfer in our current data, the highest costs about four times the lowest.
Live Quotes, US to Jamaican Dollars
Compare Money Transfer Services
Sending 1,000.00 USD → JMD from the US · Estimated typical cost · bank deposit, bank-funded
Showing 8 of 17 services we can price for USD → JMD
Estimates only, not live quotes. "Recipient Gets" is for a bank deposit funded from a bank account, on today's mid-market rate: for a "provider quote", minus the rate markup and fee from that provider's own recent quote; for an estimate, minus the provider's typical markup and fee. Rows are ranked by total cost, the fee plus the rate markup, so a fee charged on top of the amount sent counts against a provider even when its recipient gets more. Real cost varies by corridor, amount, delivery and payment method, and promotions (e.g. new-customer offers can be cheaper). Tap a provider to get its live rate before sending. The dot by each provider shows confidence, and the label says how the figure was grounded: "corridor estimate" is a rate we measured for this exact pair; a currency-code estimate (e.g. "USD estimate") is measured for that source currency but not this destination; "typical estimate" is the provider's general figure across all its corridors; "provider quote" is that provider's own recent quote for this pair, its markup and fee applied to today's mid-market rate exactly as its calculator shows them, and a provider whose quote depends on a payment or delivery choice is left out here and priced on its own calculator. Margins are verified against live provider quotes and the World Bank Remittance Prices database; the date above is the most recent collection. Some “Send money now” buttons are partner links: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no cost to you, and rows are ranked by cost whatever the link. See how we collect these prices and our advertising disclosure.
What Each Service Charges on This Route
Each row prices a bank deposit in Jamaica paid from a US bank account, split into the service's fee and the margin in its exchange rate, measured against the mid-market USD/JMD rate when it quoted.
| Service | Rate and fee at $1,000 | Cost shape | $200 | $500 | $1,000 | $5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taptap SendDelivered by bank deposit | 157.2 JMD$1.99 fee | 0.78% rate + $1.99 | ≈$3.54 | ≈$5.89 | $9.81 | $41.16 |
| Paysend | 155.84 JMD$1.99 fee | 1.64% rate + $1.99 | ≈$5.24 | ≈$10.16 | $18.36 | $83.97 |
| Ria Money TransferDelivered by bank deposit, paid by bank account | 155.25 JMD$2.00 fee | 2.02% rate + $2.00 | — | — | $22.12 | $102.76 |
| MoneyGram | 155.22 JMD$1.90 fee | 2.03% rate + $1.90 | ≈$5.93 | ≈$12.03 | $22.21 | $103.58 |
| SendwaveDelivered by bank deposit | 155.11 JMD$2.49 fee | 2.10% rate + $2.49 | ≈$6.64 | ≈$12.93 | $23.43 | $107.39 |
| Remitly | 154.85 JMD$2.99 fee | 1.90–3.06% rate + $2.99 | ≈$9.03 | ≈$18.22 | $25.61 | $97.73 |
| Western UnionDelivered by direct to bank, paid by bank account | 154.21 JMD$1.99 fee | 2.67% rate + $1.99 | ≈$7.27 | ≈$15.27 | $28.60 | $135.28 |
| XoomDelivered by bank deposit, paid by bank account (ACH) | 152.52 JMDNo fee | 3.48–5.44% rate, no fee | $10.89 | $20.09 | $37.37 | $174.22 |
From our current data, collected November 3–6, 2026, for a transfer from the US paid from a bank account and delivered to a bank account. Each rate is the service's margin from that data on the latest mid-market rate, 1 USD = 158.44 JMD on November 6, 2026, so it moves with the market. A dash means the provider has no quote at that amount whose fee and rate we can state. ≈ marks a price between two amounts the provider quoted, where its fee and rate are known to hold. How we collect these prices.
Remitly and Xoom charge a different rate margin at different amounts, so their costs can fall as the amount rises rather than climbing steadily.
- BOSS Money and Wise don’t price a transfer paid from a bank account and delivered to a bank account on this route, only other ways to pay or receive.
- We hold no current quote for this route from Instarem, OFX, Pangea, Revolut, WorldRemit and XE.
The US-dollar cost, fee and margin included, of Jamaican dollars paid into a bank account. The lowest standing price at each amount is in green. A promotional price gets a label and no green, since a returning customer wouldn't be quoted it.
Between the lowest and the highest standing price for a $1,000 transfer lies about $28. At the mid-market rate of 158.4 on November 6, 2026, that is about 4,400 Jamaican dollars more or less in your family's account.
Price your own amount in a service's calculator:
Small Transfers, Big Transfers
Taptap Send has the lowest standing price at every amount in our table, from $200 to $5,000, so on current data the size of the transfer doesn't change which service to price first.
A transfer price has up to two parts. A flat fee weighs most on a small transfer and fades as the amount grows; a margin in the exchange rate grows with every dollar sent. A higher fee pays for itself only when it buys a thinner margin, and only above a certain amount. Here, Taptap Send charges a $1.99 fee plus a 0.78% rate margin, while Paysend, the next standing price at $1,000, charges a $1.99 fee plus a 1.64% rate margin.
of a $200 transfer, in our current data
of a $5,000 transfer, in our current data
So if you send a set amount every month, sending it as one transfer rather than several costs less per dollar. The trade-off is timing: a family that needs money weekly may be better served by smaller, more frequent transfers.
Collecting in Jamaica: TRN, ID and Accounts
Pickup agents in Jamaica ask for identification, and some ask for more as the amount grows. Make sure your recipient has these in order before you send:
- TRN
- The Taxpayer Registration Number, issued by Tax Administration Jamaica, is what pickup agents ask for alongside photo ID. JN Money, for one, asks for one ID and the TRN on smaller collections, two IDs and the TRN above a set amount, and proof of address with forms on the purpose of the funds at its top tier. A visitor whose non-Jamaican passport shows a recent arrival on the island is exempt from those requirements there.
- Registering with an agent
- Western Union's Jamaican site asks a first-time receiver to register their details at an agent before collecting, so a first pickup takes longer than later ones.
- Cash pickup
- For $1,000 picked up in cash, Taptap Send at $9.81 is the lowest standing price, with Ria Money Transfer at $21.12 and Sendwave at $23.43 behind. That is about the same as the lowest standing bank deposit at that amount.
- Bank account
- For a deposit you need the recipient's full name, bank and account number, and some services also ask for their address, phone number and the purpose of the transfer. Western Union lists Scotiabank, National Commercial Bank, First Global Bank, FirstCaribbean and Sagicor for deposits in Jamaica, and JN Bank and others take deposits too. For a mobile wallet instead, Western Union at $28.60 is the one standing price on $1,000.
Hurricane Melissa struck in late October 2025. Remittances fell that month as airports closed and payout channels were disrupted, then jumped in November as Jamaicans abroad sent help. If your family relies on one counter, agree a backup before the season starts, such as a bank deposit or an agent in another parish.
The Jamaican Dollar and the BOJ
Jamaica lets its dollar float, but the Bank of Jamaica manages the ride. When the market gets jumpy it sells US dollars to dealers through its B-FXITT auctions, and it sold about US$1.2 billion that way in the twelve months to the end of July 2025. By the end of June 2025 the Jamaican dollar was about 2.5% weaker against the US dollar than at the start of the year, after a bout of instability in April and May.
The central bank expects the rate to move around a trend rather than hold still, because Jamaica's inflation runs above its trading partners'. For a sender, timing the rate is a guess, while the gap between services is something you can measure today. The mid-market reading on November 6, 2026 gave 158.4 Jamaican dollars per US dollar, so $1,000 was worth about 160,000 Jamaican dollars before any service took its cut.
Jamaicans moved deposits into US dollars at a faster pace in 2025. If your recipient saves in a US dollar account, ask the service whether it can pay into it; if it only pays Jamaican dollars, the conversion back costs your family a second spread.
Jamaica Questions, Answered
What is the cheapest way to send money to Jamaica from the US?
A transfer service paid from your US bank account, compared on the Jamaican dollars that arrive rather than on the fee alone. In our latest quotes the cheapest standing price on $500 is Taptap Send's, about $5.89.
What does my family need to collect money in Jamaica?
Photo ID, the transfer's reference number and, usually, their TRN, the Taxpayer Registration Number issued by Tax Administration Jamaica. Larger sums need more: JN Money asks for two IDs with the TRN above a set amount, and at its top tier also proof of address and forms on the purpose of the funds. Western Union's Jamaican site asks first-time receivers to register their details at an agent before collecting.
Should my family receive US dollars or Jamaican dollars?
Jamaican dollars for everyday spending, since local prices and bills are set in them. Jamaican banks also offer US dollar accounts, and Jamaicans moved savings into them at a faster pace in 2025. Whether a service can pay US dollars into such an account depends on the service and its partner bank, so ask before you send.
Is one large transfer to Jamaica cheaper than several small ones?
In our current data, yes: the lowest standing price takes about 1.8% of a $200 transfer but about 0.8% of a $5,000 one, because a flat fee doesn't grow with the amount.
How long does money take to reach Jamaica?
Western Union's Jamaican site puts a bank deposit at one to two business days, and a cash pickup is often ready sooner; the service's app gives the estimate for your own transfer. Deposits wait over weekends and Jamaican public holidays, which include Ash Wednesday, Emancipation Day on August 1 and Independence Day on August 6.
Will I pay the US remittance tax on money I send to Jamaica?
It applies only to transfers you pay for in cash, by money order, by cashier's check or with a similar paper instrument: 1% of the amount, as a federal excise tax, since January 1, 2026. A US bank account or a US debit or credit card keeps it off, and every price in the table above assumes a bank account.
Key Takeaways
- Taptap Send had the lowest standing price on $500 in our current data, at about $5.89 all-in. Prices refresh, so check your own amount before you send.
- Your recipient needs photo ID and a TRN to collect, and larger sums need more paperwork.
- At the mid-market rate on November 6, 2026, $1,000 was about 160,000 Jamaican dollars; every service's cost comes out of that.
- Cash, money orders and cashier's checks carry the 1% federal excise tax; a US bank account or card doesn't.
Run Your Own Amount to Jamaica
Before you send, check how many Jamaican dollars each service pays out on your amount.
Related Calculators & Guides
Every fee on an international transfer, from the exchange-rate markup to card, cash pickup and bank wire charges, and how to see the real price.
How to send money from the US to Guatemala in 2026: the main services compared, Banrural cash pickup, real GTQ rates, and the new remittance tax.
Live mid-market US dollar to Jamaican dollar rate.
Price a Paysend transfer to Jamaica on your own amount.
Sources & References
- JIS: BOJ has enough reserves to maintain stability in the foreign exchange market (2025)
- Bank of Jamaica: Remittance Bulletin, December 2025
- Jamaica Gleaner: Remittances slide as Hurricane Melissa disrupts flows
- Jamaica Gleaner: Remittances surge in November
- Jamaica Gleaner: Jamaicans shift deposits to US dollars at accelerated pace in 2025
- JN Money: requirements to collect a transfer
- Western Union Jamaica: receive money
- Tax Administration Jamaica
- World Bank: Remittance Prices Worldwide
- IRS: Excise taxes
Provider pricing and exchange rates are set by the companies named and can change. Figures in this guide are checked against these official sources. Always confirm the live rate before you transact.