M-Pesa Charges in Tanzania — Send and Withdraw Fees
Vodacom's published M-Pesa tariff for sending money and withdrawing cash, band by band, with the excise duty and VAT already included and the government withdrawal levy added on top.
At 50,000 TZS. Sending 50,000 TZS costs 720 TZS, so the recipient receives 50,720 TZS. Withdrawing 50,000 TZS costs 3,273 TZS, of which 573 TZS is the government withdrawal levy, so you receive 46,727 TZS. The recorded charges already include the 10% excise duty and 18% VAT.
M-Pesa charges — full tariff
The charges recorded for M-Pesa (Vodacom), last reviewed 8 September 2026. The send and withdraw tables are that operator’s bands as recorded here. Only Mixx by Yas publishes its charges as a tariff you can read; for the others, check the current charge with the operator. The withdrawal levy is charged on top of the withdrawal fee and shown separately in the worked answer above.
Send money
| Amount (TZS) | Fee (incl. tax) |
|---|---|
| 1 – 999 | 10 TZS |
| 1,000 – 1,999 | 30 TZS |
| 2,000 – 2,999 | 30 TZS |
| 3,000 – 3,999 | 50 TZS |
| 4,000 – 4,999 | 60 TZS |
| 5,000 – 6,999 | 130 TZS |
| 7,000 – 9,999 | 150 TZS |
| 10,000 – 14,999 | 350 TZS |
| 15,000 – 19,999 | 360 TZS |
| 20,000 – 29,999 | 400 TZS |
| 30,000 – 39,999 | 400 TZS |
| 40,000 – 49,999 | 410 TZS |
| 50,000 – 99,999 | 720 TZS |
| 100,000 – 199,999 | 1,000 TZS |
| 200,000 – 299,999 | 1,300 TZS |
| 300,000 – 399,999 | 1,500 TZS |
| 400,000 – 499,999 | 1,500 TZS |
| 500,000 – 599,999 | 2,000 TZS |
| 600,000 – 699,999 | 2,000 TZS |
| 700,000 – 799,999 | 3,300 TZS |
| 800,000 – 899,999 | 3,500 TZS |
| 900,000 – 1,000,000 | 3,500 TZS |
| 1,000,001 – 3,000,000 | 4,800 TZS |
| Above 3,000,001 | 4,800 TZS |
Withdraw (agent)
| Amount (TZS) | Fee (incl. tax) |
|---|---|
| 1 – 999 | 175 TZS |
| 1,000 – 2,999 | 350 TZS |
| 3,000 – 3,999 | 600 TZS |
| 4,000 – 4,999 | 650 TZS |
| 5,000 – 6,999 | 950 TZS |
| 7,000 – 9,999 | 1,000 TZS |
| 10,000 – 19,999 | 1,450 TZS |
| 20,000 – 29,999 | 1,850 TZS |
| 30,000 – 39,999 | 1,850 TZS |
| 40,000 – 49,999 | 2,350 TZS |
| 50,000 – 99,999 | 2,700 TZS |
| 100,000 – 199,999 | 3,650 TZS |
| 200,000 – 299,999 | 5,300 TZS |
| 300,000 – 399,999 | 6,500 TZS |
| 400,000 – 499,999 | 7,000 TZS |
| 500,000 – 599,999 | 7,500 TZS |
| 600,000 – 699,999 | 8,000 TZS |
| 700,000 – 799,999 | 8,000 TZS |
| 800,000 – 899,999 | 8,000 TZS |
| 900,000 – 1,000,000 | 8,000 TZS |
| 1,000,001 – 3,000,000 | 8,000 TZS |
| Above 3,000,001 | 8,000 TZS |
How M-Pesa compares at 50,000 TZS
Sending 50,000 TZS, cheapest first. Other networks are cheaper at some amounts and dearer at others, because the band boundaries differ.
| Network | Fee | Recipient receives |
|---|---|---|
| T-Pesa (TTCL) | 500 TZS | 50,500 TZS |
| HaloPesa (Halotel) | 580 TZS | 50,580 TZS |
| Airtel Money | 680 TZS | 50,680 TZS |
| M-Pesa (Vodacom) | 720 TZS | 50,720 TZS |
| Mixx by Yas | 720 TZS | 50,720 TZS |
Tariffs last verified 8 September 2026 for all networks. M-Pesa was verified 8 Sep 2026.
What M-Pesa costs at different amounts
The same charge worked through at four amounts, send and withdraw. Withdrawals include the government levy; sending does not attract it.
| Amount | Send fee | Recipient receives | Withdraw fee | You receive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 TZS | 350 TZS | 10,350 TZS | 1,552 TZS | 8,448 TZS |
| 50,000 TZS | 720 TZS | 50,720 TZS | 3,273 TZS | 46,727 TZS |
| 250,000 TZS | 1,300 TZS | 251,300 TZS | 6,121 TZS | 243,879 TZS |
| 1,000,000 TZS | 3,500 TZS | 1,003,500 TZS | 9,776 TZS | 990,224 TZS |
Where the M-Pesa fee steps up
The tariff is banded, so the fee jumps at these amounts rather than rising smoothly. Each row states the last amount charged the lower fee.
| Above | Fee | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 699,999 TZS | 2,000 → 3,300 TZS | +1,300 TZS |
| 1,000,000 TZS | 3,500 → 4,800 TZS | +1,300 TZS |
| 499,999 TZS | 1,500 → 2,000 TZS | +500 TZS |
The largest single jump is at 699,999 TZS, where the fee rises from 2,000 to 3,300 TZS — an increase of 1,300 TZS for the next shilling. Splitting a transfer across two bands is not always cheaper, because each transfer carries its own charge; work the alternative through before splitting.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to send money on M-Pesa in Tanzania?
It depends on the amount: Vodacom's tariff is banded, so each range of amounts has its own fee. The table above shows every band, and the calculator works out a specific amount.
Why is withdrawing more expensive than sending on M-Pesa?
Because a withdrawal carries the government withdrawal levy on top of Vodacom's own tariff, and the agent is handling cash. Sending money attracts only the operator's fee.
Are M-Pesa charges inclusive of VAT and excise duty?
Yes. Vodacom publishes its tariff with the 10% excise duty and 18% VAT already included, so the fee in the table is what leaves your balance.