Sending money to the Philippines from Malaysia
Updated June 2026 · 7 min read
Roughly 200,000 Filipinos work in Malaysia, and remittance to the Philippines is one of the busiest money corridors in KL. The good news: it's also one of the cheapest in Southeast Asia, with fees as low as RM 5 and same-day delivery to GCash, bank accounts, and pawnshop pickup. This guide compares the main channels and shows you how to spot a fair MYR-to-PHP rate.
1. Your four options
| Channel | Speed | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Placid Express | Minutes (cash) / same-day (bank/GCash) | RM 5–10 |
| Western Union | Minutes (cash pickup) | RM 8–18 |
| MoneyGram | Minutes (cash pickup) | RM 6–15 |
| Bank wire (Maybank, CIMB) | 1–3 business days | RM 25–50 |
2. Compare the rate, not just the fee
A "no fee" promotion often hides a worse MYR-PHP rate. Check the day's mid-market rate (e.g. RM 1 ≈ PHP 12.5 in mid-2026) and compare it to what the operator quotes. A 2% margin on RM 1,000 is PHP 250 — much more than the RM 10 fee difference between counters.
3. Cash pickup vs bank vs GCash
- Cash pickup — fastest, available at BDO, Metrobank, M Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop. Best if the recipient has no bank account.
- Bank deposit — cheapest for amounts above RM 500. Same-day to most Philippine banks.
- GCash / Maya wallet — fastest digital option. Funds land in minutes, recipient withdraws via ATM or pays bills directly.
4. Where to send from in KL
Most Bukit Bintang, Sungei Wang, KLCC, Mid Valley and Masjid India money changers also handle PHP remittance — often at better rates than standalone WU/MG counters because the FX desk is in-house. KLXchange lists every licensed changer with remittance services so you can find the nearest one.
5. What to bring
- Your passport or Malaysian work permit (i-Kad).
- Recipient's full name exactly as it appears on their valid Philippine ID.
- For bank deposit: bank name, branch, and account number.
- For GCash: the recipient's GCash-registered Philippine mobile number.
- For cash pickup: just the recipient's name — you'll get a reference number to share with them.