Cheapest way to send money from Hong Kong to the Philippines

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.

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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 deposit, GCash, Maya and cash pickup
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 the Philippines

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

About this corridor

Hong Kong's Filipino domestic helpers send money home every month, often on Sunday in Central. Remittance shops are convenient, but digital services that deliver to GCash or a bank account can give a better rate.

Worked example: sending 5,000 HKD

Using the ECB reference rate on 2026-10-07, 1 HKD = 8.0029 PHP, our estimate model gives these results for sending 5,000 HKD:

ProviderEst. feeEst. receivedTotal cost vs mid-market
Wise37.85 HKD39,711.60 PHP302.90 PHP
Revolut15.00 HKD39,694.98 PHP319.52 PHP
Remitly0.00 HKD39,534.33 PHP480.17 PHP
Western Union39.24 HKD38,906.43 PHP1,108.07 PHP
Bank wire (typical)156.97 HKD37,789.30 PHP2,225.20 PHP

In this example Wise delivers roughly 1,922.30 PHP 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 the Philippines: what to know

  • Payout options: bank deposit, GCash, Maya and cash pickup.
  • GCash and cash pickup are popular for families outside major cities.
  • Cash pickup is convenient but often carries a worse rate than bank or e-wallet delivery.

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 the Philippines: Banks and e-money issuers are supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). E-wallets have balance and monthly incoming limits that rise with full verification, so large amounts are better sent to a bank account.

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 the Philippines?

It depends on the amount and the day's pricing. This page calculates, at today's mid-market rate, how much PHP 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 1,922.30 PHP versus the cheapest option. Rates and pricing change daily.

How can my recipient in the Philippines receive the money?

Common payout options are bank deposit, GCash, Maya and cash pickup. 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