Cheapest way to send money from Hong Kong to Indonesia

FXMetrics editorial team · Updated · How we calculate

Hong Kong's foreign domestic helpers, most of them from the Philippines and Indonesia, send a large share of each month's wage home, often through remittance shops on their Sunday off. Below: what your recipient actually gets for 5,000 HKD, at today's mid-market rate.

Loading today's mid-market rate…

ProviderRecipient getsTotal costSpeedSite

Mid-market rates from the European Central Bank (via the Frankfurter API); currencies the ECB does not cover use ExchangeRate-API. Provider fees and markups are estimates from public pricing; always check the final quote. Methodology · Share this result

Payout options
Bank transfer and e-wallets such as DANA, OVO or GoPay on some providers
Typical speed
Minutes to 2 business days (digital); 2–5 business days (bank wire)
Regulation in Hong Kong
HKMA (banks) / Customs (money service operators)
Rate benchmark
ECB reference rate

Who sends money from Hong Kong to Indonesia

Common senders: foreign domestic helpers, professionals on employment visas, and families supporting relatives in South-East Asia.

About this corridor

Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong mostly gather in Causeway Bay on their day off, where many remittance shops operate. Bank delivery to BRI or BNI and e-wallets are both common; check the full name matches the bank record to avoid returns.

Worked example: sending 5,000 HKD

Using the ECB reference rate on 2026-10-07, 1 HKD = 2,276.97 IDR, our estimate model gives these results for sending 5,000 HKD:

ProviderEst. feeEst. receivedTotal cost vs mid-market
Wise37.85 HKD11,298,670 IDR86,180 IDR
Revolut15.00 HKD11,293,942 IDR90,908 IDR
Remitly0.00 HKD11,248,232 IDR136,618 IDR
Western Union39.24 HKD11,069,584 IDR315,266 IDR
Bank wire (typical)156.97 HKD10,751,740 IDR633,110 IDR

In this example Wise delivers roughly 546,929 IDR more than a typical bank wire. Rates move daily and providers change pricing, so treat this as an illustration from our model; the live calculator above and the provider's own quote are what count. See how we estimate.

Sending to Indonesia: what to know

  • Payout options: bank transfer and e-wallets such as DANA, OVO or GoPay on some providers.
  • Bank delivery to BCA, BRI, Mandiri and BNI is widely supported.
  • Double-check the recipient's name matches the bank record exactly to avoid returns.

Rules and limits

In Hong Kong: Banks in Hong Kong are supervised by the HKMA; money service operators offering remittances must be licensed by the Customs and Excise Department.

In Indonesia: Money transfer services are licensed by Bank Indonesia. E-wallet deliveries are subject to wallet balance limits, which are lower for unverified accounts.

How to pick the cheapest option

  1. Compare the amount received, not the fee. "Zero fee" offers usually hide their cost in the rate. How markups work.
  2. Small amounts: watch fixed fees. Large amounts: watch the markup.
  3. Avoid intermediary deductions. SWIFT wires can lose $10–30 in transit. Why.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to send money from Hong Kong to Indonesia?

It depends on the amount and the day's pricing. This page calculates, at today's mid-market rate, how much IDR each provider delivers for 5,000 HKD; the top row is currently the cheapest by our estimate.

How much more does a bank wire cost for 5,000 HKD?

Using the reference rate on 2026-10-07, our model puts the gap at about 546,929 IDR versus the cheapest option. Rates and pricing change daily.

How can my recipient in Indonesia receive the money?

Common payout options are bank transfer and e-wallets such as DANA, OVO or GoPay on some providers. Availability differs by provider, so check before you send.

How long does it take?

Digital services usually take minutes to 1–2 business days; bank wires often take 2–5 business days.

Sources

Official pages checked on