Pakistan pack
Remittance True-Cost Checker (Saudi Arabia & UAE to Pakistan)
See what a transfer to Pakistan really costs: the fee you pay plus the margin hidden in the exchange rate you were quoted, measured against a reference rate you enter. Works for riyals, dirhams and US dollars.
This is an estimate: the margin depends on the reference rate you enter. For context, the World Bank (Remittance Prices Worldwide, Third Quarter 2025, the latest shown on 16 Oct 2026) puts the average total cost of sending the equivalent of US$200 at 5.02% from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and 2.17% from the UAE to Pakistan, fee plus exchange-rate margin.
- Total cost (in the currency you send)
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- Total cost as a share of the amount sent
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- Hidden exchange-rate margin
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- Margin cost (in the currency you send)
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- Margin cost in rupees
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- Total cost in rupees, at the reference rate
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- Rupees received at the quoted rate
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- Rupees at the reference rate
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How it is calculated
- Hidden exchange-rate margin (%) = (reference rate − quoted rate) ÷ reference rate × 100
- Margin cost in rupees = amount sent × (reference rate − quoted rate)
- Margin cost in the currency you send = amount sent × (reference rate − quoted rate) ÷ reference rate
- Total cost = transfer fee + margin cost; total cost (%) = total cost ÷ amount sent × 100
- A quoted rate above the reference rate gives a negative margin: the rate is better than the reference, and the total cost falls by that amount.
- Rates are rupees for 1 unit of the currency you send. This is the World Bank's method: total cost = fee + exchange-rate margin.
Worked example
Sending SAR 1,000 with a SAR 15 fee, quoted Rs 73.50 per riyal when the reference rate is Rs 74.20.
| You enter | |
|---|---|
| Currency you send | Saudi riyal (SAR) |
| Amount sent | 1,000 |
| Transfer fee | 15 |
| Rate you were quoted | Rs 73.5 |
| Reference rate | Rs 74.2 |
| You get | |
| Total cost (in the currency you send) | 24.43 |
| Total cost as a share of the amount sent | 2.44% |
| Hidden exchange-rate margin | 0.94% |
| Margin cost (in the currency you send) | 9.43 |
| Margin cost in rupees | Rs 700 |
| Total cost in rupees, at the reference rate | Rs 1,813 |
| Rupees received at the quoted rate | Rs 73,500 |
| Rupees at the reference rate | Rs 74,200 |
Your rate of Rs 73.5 per SAR is 0.94% below the reference rate of Rs 74.2, a hidden margin of Rs 700 (about SAR 9.43). In all the transfer costs SAR 24.43, 2.44% of what you sent.
Questions
Which reference rate should I use?
The mid-market rate (halfway between the buying and selling rate) at the time of your transfer, or the State Bank of Pakistan's published rate for that date. Use the same rate when you compare quotes, so the comparison is fair.
Why can the margin be negative?
If you were quoted more rupees than the reference rate, your rate is better than the reference. The tool shows that honestly as a negative margin, which lowers the total cost. The World Bank's own data shows some quotes like this.
The fee was taken out of my amount. What do I enter?
Enter the amount that was actually converted to rupees as the amount sent, and the fee as the transfer fee.
Sources and checks
- World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide: Saudi Arabia to Pakistan corridor (Third Quarter 2025; total cost = fee + exchange rate margin)
- World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide: United Arab Emirates to Pakistan corridor (Third Quarter 2025)
- State Bank of Pakistan: daily USD/PKR mark-to-market revaluation and weighted average rates
Last checked: 16 October 2026. This calculator passes 11 automatic tests before every release.
Your numbers never leave your device: the calculation runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent or stored.
An estimate for comparing quotes, based on the reference rate you enter. It does not include charges taken by the receiving bank or wallet, or any tax. This tool does not name, rank or recommend any provider. Results are estimates for information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important figures with a qualified professional before you act on them.