Send Money from Singapore to Nepal — Best SGD/NPR Rates

Your recipient in Nepal can receive NPR in several ways. The fastest method depends on whether they have a bank account, a mobile wallet, or need cash:

• Bank Account Deposit — Direct credit to Nabil Bank, NIC Asia, Himalayan Bank, NMB and 25+ other Nepali commercial banks. Usually same business day.
• eSewa / Khalti — Mobile wallets serving over 9 million users between them. Many MTOs support direct wallet transfer with instant credit.
• Cash Pickup — Western Union, MoneyGram, IME and Prabhu Money Transfer have extensive networks across Nepal — over 12,000 pickup locations including in remote districts.

Confirm the delivery method with your recipient before you send. Most providers let you choose the method during checkout, but the fee and speed can vary — bank transfers are typically cheapest, cash pickup is typically fastest.

There is no single 'best' provider — the right choice depends on whether you prioritise the recipient amount, the fee, the speed, or the institution type.

• If you want the most for your money: Instarem delivered the highest recipient amount in our most recent live snapshot.
• If you only care about the lowest fee: Remitly has the cheapest upfront fee at SGD 3.99, though check the recipient amount before assuming it's the best deal.
• If you need the money to arrive in minutes: Wise typically clears in within hours.

Recommendations refresh with the live data above. The provider that wins today may not win tomorrow — always check the live table immediately before sending.

Sending money out of Singapore is generally not taxed for the sender, but there are reporting and compliance rules worth knowing — especially for larger amounts. The most relevant rules:

• MAS Licensing — All money transfer operators in Singapore must hold a Major Payment Institution (MPI) or Standard Payment Institution licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Payment Services Act 2019.
• Suspicious Transaction Reports — Providers are required to file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) with the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office (STRO) for any transaction that raises concerns about money laundering, regardless of size.
• PayNow integration — Singapore's PayNow system supports instant cross-border transfers to India (UPI), Thailand (PromptPay) and Malaysia (DuitNow) — many providers route SGD remittances through these rails for near-instant delivery.

For a complete view of the rules that apply to senders in Singapore, see our Singapore guide. For your specific situation, consult a tax professional.

Nepal's rules around inbound foreign currency are usually permissive for personal remittance, but it's worth knowing the framework:

• Nepal Rastra Bank oversight — Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) regulates all foreign exchange and remittance services. Inbound remittances are mandatorily converted to Nepali Rupees by authorised dealers.
• Foreign Employment Promotion — Remittances from Nepali workers abroad are exempt from income tax. The government actively promotes remittances as a key economic input.
• Pegged exchange rate — The Nepali Rupee is pegged to the Indian Rupee at INR 1 = NPR 1.6. This makes the cross-rate to other currencies (USD, GBP, etc.) essentially track INR cross-rates.

The single biggest mistake in international transfers is comparing fees instead of comparing the recipient amount. Many providers advertise "no fee" but build a 2–4% margin into the exchange rate they offer you. On a S$1,000 transfer, a 3% rate margin costs you S$30 of value — invisible unless you check the rate against the mid-market.

The mid-market rate right now is approximately 1 SGD = 118.16 NPR. That's the rate banks use among themselves — providers add a margin on top, which is why the table above ranks by recipient amount rather than by headline fee.

When comparing options, always look at the "Recipient gets" column in the table above. That number already includes both the upfront fee and any rate margin — it's the only honest measure of cost.