MoneroP2PHow much it really costs to swap USDT for Monero
Note: MoneroP2P charges a fee on every completed swap (see FAQ ). It runs with real money on Arbitrum One, with a maximum of 100 USDT per swap.
Short answer: the total cost of swapping USDT for Monero has four parts: the price margin (how much XMR you get versus the market price), the service fee, gas on the USDT network and the Monero network fee. To compare options you don’t need to add it all up: just look at how much XMR you receive for the same amount of USDT. Whoever gives you more XMR is cheaper.
The four parts of the cost
| Part | What it is | Typical size |
|---|---|---|
| Price margin | The gap between the market price and the price you are offered | The largest part; depends on the seller |
| Service fee | What the platform or exchange charges | Varies; sometimes already built into the price |
| Gas | What the USDT network charges for your transactions | On Arbitrum, usually cents of a dollar |
| Monero network fee | What Monero charges to send you the XMR | Usually a fraction of a cent |
The margin and the fee are often built into the quote, so you don’t see them separately. That is why the number that matters is the final XMR.
How to work out the real cost
- Look up the reference price of XMR in USDT on a price site.
- Divide what you send by that price: that is the XMR you would get with no costs.
- Compare it with what you are offered. The difference, as a percentage, is your total cost.
Example with made-up numbers, just to show the calculation: if XMR is worth 300 USDT and you send 50 USDT, with no costs you would get 0.1667 XMR.
| Option | You get | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
| A | 0.1625 XMR | 2.5% |
| B | 0.1640 XMR | 1.6% |
Option B is cheaper even if its advertised “fee” were higher: what counts is the XMR that reaches your wallet.
What it costs on MoneroP2P
- Platform fee: 0.5%, paid by the maker when they claim their USDT. Each maker’s published price already includes their margin; the app shows the exact XMR before you deposit.
- Gas on Arbitrum One: you pay for the deposit and the confirmation (and the refund, if needed). Your wallet shows the exact cost before you sign.
- Monero network fee: deducted when the XMR is sent to you.
- Refunds pay no platform fee; only gas.
In the app’s simple view you type how much USDT you send and see every quote sorted by XMR received, so the comparison is already done for you.
Costs you don’t see at first
- Moving your USDT across networks. If your USDT is on Tron or Ethereum and the service uses Arbitrum, moving it costs fees and time. Sometimes that costs more than the swap itself. Differences between networks.
- Floating or fixed rate. On instant exchanges, a floating rate can change while your deposit arrives; a fixed rate guarantees the amount but usually gives less XMR.
- Small amounts. Gas and the network fee are nearly fixed, so they weigh more on small swaps.
- Time. A swap that takes an hour exposes you to price moves. On MoneroP2P the XMR amount is locked in when you request the swap.
Tips to pay less
- Always compare by XMR received, not by the advertised fee.
- Swap from the network where your USDT already is, if the service supports it.
- Avoid very small amounts if you can put together a larger one (up to 100 USDT per swap on MoneroP2P).
- Keep a little ETH on Arbitrum for gas, so you don’t have to buy it in a hurry.
If you are not sure which option to use yet, start with how to buy Monero without KYC.