Because banks shouldn't hide your money in spreads.
We expose the real cost of every transfer — the spread, the fees, the delivery time — and rank providers by what actually lands in your recipient's account. No sponsored ordering. Ever.
Hover any card to see exactly what it costs you.
vs Traditional Banks
You save up to PYG 521665
on a EUR 900 transfer
Wise
BEST RATEBank of America
+5% markup + $35 wire fee
Wells Fargo
+4.5% markup + $25 wire fee
Sending euros to Paraguay doesn't have to mean losing 5% to bank markups. Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit deliver PYG directly to BBVA Paraguay and Banco Continental accounts in hours, not days. Here's how to pick the cheapest option for your transfer in 2026.
In Paraguay, recipients can access funds directly at Banco Continental, the country's largest financial institution. By using Wise instead of a traditional bank wire, your recipient gets approximately 299,000 PYG more on a $1,000 transfer — because digital providers pass the real exchange rate directly. Worth knowing about the local currency: the ₲100,000 guaraní note features Itaipu Dam — co-owned by Paraguay and Brazil and once the world's largest hydroelectric plant.
Our verdict: For most EUR to PYG transfers, Wise offers the best balance of low fees and mid-market rates — but check Remitly promos for amounts under €500.
The Ireland-to-Paraguay corridor is small but steady. Most senders are Paraguayan workers in Dublin, Cork, or Galway supporting family back in Asunción or Ciudad del Este, plus Irish expats running businesses in South America. Banks treat this route as exotic — meaning they hit you with awful exchange rates and SWIFT fees that can swallow €40-€60 per transfer. Digital providers like Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit have rebuilt this corridor from scratch. They settle locally in guaraníes, skip the correspondent bank chain, and deliver in hours instead of days. If you're sending more than €100, going digital is the obvious move.
There are two costs you need to watch: the flat fee and the exchange rate markup. The flat fee is easy — Wise charges around €3-€8 depending on payment method, Remitly often runs €0-€4, and banks like AIB or Bank of Ireland charge €15-€25 plus a hidden SEPA-to-SWIFT surcharge. The real cost is the exchange rate markup. Banks typically tack on 3-5% to the mid-market EUR/PYG rate. That means on a €1,000 transfer, you could lose €30-€50 invisibly. Always compare what arrives in PYG, not what's advertised as "no fee."
Wise wins on transparency — it uses the mid-market rate and charges a clear percentage fee, usually 0.5-0.7% for EUR to PYG. Remitly's "Economy" option often beats Wise on smaller amounts under €500, especially with first-transfer promos. Revolut covers PYG through its standard plan but adds a weekend markup, so avoid sending on Saturdays. WorldRemit is competitive for cash pickup at retail agents. Compared to AIB or Bank of Ireland, digital providers save you between 3% and 8% on the total cost. For amounts over €2,000, Wise is almost always the cheapest. For under €500, run a quick Remitly vs Wise check — promos shift weekly.
Speed depends on what you pay for. Remitly's "Express" option delivers within minutes using debit card funding. Wise typically takes 1-2 business days when paid by SEPA transfer, or under an hour by card. Bank wires are the slow lane — expect 3-5 business days through correspondent banks. If your family needs the money for an emergency, pay the small premium for an instant service. For rent or planned support payments, use the economy option and save the fee.
Most digital providers deliver straight to a Paraguayan bank account, and the two largest receiving banks in Paraguay are BBVA Paraguay and Banco Continental — both accept inbound transfers from Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit without issue. You can also choose mobile wallet delivery through Tigo Money or Personal Pay, which is ideal for recipients in rural areas without a bank branch nearby. Cash pickup is available through Western Union agent networks and select retail partners across Asunción and the interior. Remittances play an important role in Paraguay's economy, supporting household income for thousands of families and feeding into local consumption — so the infrastructure for receiving money is well developed across both urban and rural areas.
Standard banking regulations apply for sending from Ireland to Paraguay. Ireland follows EU anti-money-laundering rules, so transfers above €1,000 may require ID verification, and amounts above €10,000 trigger source-of-funds checks. On the Paraguayan side, personal remittances to family are not taxed as income for the recipient, but transfers above certain thresholds get reported to SEPRELAD (the local financial intelligence unit). Keep transaction records — they're useful if your recipient's bank queries the deposit.
The guaraní is relatively stable against the euro, but it does drift. EUR/PYG tends to move with broader USD strength since Paraguay's economy is dollar-linked. Set up rate alerts on Wise or Revolut — they'll ping you when the rate hits your target. Avoid sending on Friday evenings or weekends, when liquidity drops and providers widen their spreads. For amounts over €1,000, splitting into two transfers across different weeks can smooth out rate volatility. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (Irish time) usually offer the tightest spreads.