MTN MoMo fees in Zambia (2026) cover three transaction types: sending money, withdrawing cash at an agent, and bank transfers. Withdrawal charges run from K2.50 on K0-K150 up to K60 on K5,000-K10,000, while sending to another MTN MoMo number costs K0.74 to K12 across the same bands once the government levy is included. Bank transfers and cross-network sends carry their own schedules, all listed below.
MTN MoMo fees were revised upward in early 2026 following the Mobile Money Transaction Levy (Amendment) Act, 2025. The levy applies only to person-to-person sends, not to withdrawals or bank transfers. Use our mobile money fees calculator to check the exact cost for any specific amount, or download the 2026 MTN MoMo charge sheet as a PDF.
Sending and withdrawing are only part of what MoMo does. Many Zambians also use MTN MoMo to buy ZESCO electricity tokens and pay RTSA road tax, all from the same wallet.
The government mobile money levy
The government first introduced a mobile money levy in January 2025 under Act No. 25 of 2024. The 2025 Amendment doubled the rates effective 1 January 2026. The levy applies to person-to-person transfers across all providers - MTN, Airtel, Zamtel, and ZedMobile. It is not charged on withdrawals.
Transaction Amount | Levy |
|---|---|
K0 - K150 | K0.32 |
K150.01 - K300 | K0.40 |
K300.01 - K500 | K0.80 |
K500.01 - K1,000 | K2.00 |
K1,000.01 - K3,000 | K4.00 |
K3,000.01 - K5,000 | K7.50 |
K5,000.01 - K10,000 | K8.00 |
MTN-to-MTN transfer fees
Sending money to another registered MTN MoMo user is the cheapest option. The table below shows MTN's service fee plus the government levy.
Amount Range | MTN Fee | + Levy | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
K0 - K150 | K0.42 | K0.32 | K0.74 |
K150.01 - K300 | K0.90 | K0.40 | K1.30 |
K300.01 - K500 | K0.80 | K0.80 | K1.60 |
K500.01 - K1,000 | K1.00 | K2.00 | K3.00 |
K1,000.01 - K3,000 | K2.20 | K4.00 | K6.20 |
K3,000.01 - K5,000 | K3.00 | K7.50 | K10.50 |
K5,000.01 - K10,000 | K4.00 | K8.00 | K12.00 |
Same-network fees are nearly identical to Airtel Money. The only difference is the K1,000.01 - K3,000 band where MTN charges K2.20 versus Airtel's K2.00.
Cross-network transfer fees
Sending from MTN MoMo to Airtel Money or Zamtel Kwacha is considerably more expensive. MTN's network fee is the same as for bank transfers, but cross-network sends also attract the government levy.
Amount Range | MTN Fee | + Levy | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
K0 - K150 | K2.50 | K0.32 | K2.82 |
K150.01 - K300 | K5.00 | K0.40 | K5.40 |
K300.01 - K500 | K8.00 | K0.80 | K8.80 |
K500.01 - K1,000 | K15.00 | K2.00 | K17.00 |
K1,000.01 - K3,000 | K20.00 | K4.00 | K24.00 |
K3,000.01 - K5,000 | K30.00 | K7.50 | K37.50 |
K5,000.01 - K10,000 | K50.00 | K8.00 | K58.00 |
Cost-saving tip: If the recipient has both MTN and Airtel, ask them to receive on MTN. A K5,000 same-network transfer costs K10.50 versus K37.50 cross-network - that is K27 saved.
MTN MoMo to bank transfer fees
MTN charges the same fees for bank transfers as cross-network transfers. However, bank transfers are not subject to the government levy - the Act only covers person-to-person transfers. This makes bank transfers cheaper than cross-network sends at the same amount.
Amount Range | MTN Fee |
|---|---|
K0 - K150 | K2.50 |
K150.01 - K300 | K5.00 |
K300.01 - K500 | K8.00 |
K500.01 - K1,000 | K15.00 |
K1,000.01 - K3,000 | K20.00 |
K3,000.01 - K5,000 | K30.00 |
K5,000.01 - K10,000 | K50.00 |
Note: Airtel Money charges slightly less for bank transfers at some bands (e.g. K3.50 vs K5.00 at K300). If you frequently transfer to banks, compare both using the calculator.
MTN MoMo withdrawal fees
Cash withdrawals from an MTN agent are not subject to the government levy - you only pay MTN's service fee.
Amount Range | Withdrawal Fee |
|---|---|
K0 - K150 | K2.50 |
K150.01 - K300 | K5.00 |
K300.01 - K500 | K10.00 |
K500.01 - K1,000 | K20.00 |
K1,000.01 - K2,000 | K30.00 |
K2,000.01 - K3,000 | K40.00 |
K3,000.01 - K5,000 | K55.00 |
K5,000.01 - K10,000 | K60.00 |
Worked example - sending K2,500 cross-network
Suppose you need to send K2,500 from MTN MoMo to a friend on Airtel Money:
Amount: K2,500
MTN fee: K20.00 (cross-network, band K1,000.01 - K3,000)
Govt levy: K4.00 (band K1,000.01 - K3,000)
Total cost: K24.00
Recipient gets: K2,500That K24 fee is nearly 1% of the transaction. If your friend can receive on MTN instead, the same transfer costs just K6.20 - saving you K17.80.
How do MTN MoMo fees compare to Airtel Money?
The two providers are remarkably similar on same-network fees, but diverge on cross-network and bank transfers. Here is a side-by-side at common amounts:
Transaction (K5,000) | MTN MoMo | Airtel Money |
|---|---|---|
Same-network send | K3.00 + K7.50 levy = K10.50 | K3.00 + K7.50 levy = K10.50 |
Cross-network send | K30.00 + K7.50 levy = K37.50 | K29.00 + K7.50 levy = K36.50 |
Bank transfer | K30.00 (no levy) | K30.00 (no levy) |
Withdrawal | K55.00 | K55.00 |
For a full breakdown at any amount, see our Airtel Money fees guide or compare both providers in the mobile money calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does MTN MoMo charge the same for bank transfers and cross-network?
Yes. MTN uses identical fees for cross-network sends (to Airtel or Zamtel) and bank transfers. This differs from Airtel, which has separate, sometimes lower, bank transfer rates.
Is the government levy the same on all networks?
Yes. The mobile money transaction levy is set by government legislation and applies equally to MTN, Airtel, Zamtel, and ZedMobile. The levy bands and amounts are identical regardless of provider.
Can I avoid the mobile money levy?
The levy applies to all send transactions and cannot be avoided. However, withdrawals are exempt. If you are cashing out money someone sent you, you will not pay the levy - only the MTN withdrawal fee.
See also: Airtel Money fees in Zambia (2026).
