At National Bridal Service, we help men find foreign brides for marriage through our trusted online platform. Many people ask: How much does a mail order bride cost? Well, the process involves several expenses, and it’s important to know what to expect. In this article, we not only discuss the costs associated with mail order bride dating, but also want to explain what the bride price is: it’s an investment in means like national bridal service, traveling, visa, and wedding — things that are far from a dowry and compensation for a bride, which is typical in many cultures. Let’s talk about this in more detail.
What Makes Up the Cost of a Mail Order Bride?
The term “mail order bride” does not mean buying a person. Instead, it refers to the expenses of finding, communicating with, and marrying a woman from another country. These costs include online dating services, travel, visas, and wedding arrangements. Below, we break down the main expenses you’ll encounter.
To use mail order bride services, you need to pay for a membership or credits. Most dating sites operate on a credit system. You buy credits to message women, make video calls, or send gifts.
- Credit Packages: Most credit packages start at $2.99 for 35 credits. For example, 20 credits let you chat for about 10 minutes. Larger packages, like 1,000 credits for $200, offer better value. New users get free credits after verifying their account, which helps you start without spending much upfront.
- Monthly Costs: On average, men spend $50 to $150 per month on a dating site, which depends on how often they communicate. If you use video calls or send gifts, costs can rise to $300 monthly.
You can control these costs by choosing how often you message or call. Sticking to text messages is cheaper than video chats or sending virtual gifts like stickers or media.
Meeting your potential bride in person is a key step. Travel costs depend on her country, the time of year, and how long you stay. A two-week trip is common to build a connection.
- Flights: A round-trip flight from New York to Warsaw costs about $700, while a trip to the Philippines or Colombia is around $600 to $1,700.
- Accommodation: A week in a decent hotel in Poland costs around $1,200. In Latin American countries like Colombia, it’s closer to $500 to $800 for a week.
- Other Costs: Meals, local transport, and activities like dates add $300 to $700 per week; it depends on your lifestyle.
Travel expenses can vary widely. A trip to Latin America is often cheaper than Asia or Eastern Europe due to shorter distances and lower airfare.
To bring your fiancée to the United States, you need a K-1 visa. This allows her to enter the country for marriage. The costs include:
- K-1 Visa Fees: The government fee for a K-1 visa is around $2,400, including the petition, visa application, and adjustment of status after marriage.
- Medical Exams: Your fiancée needs a medical exam, which costs $200 to $500.
- Legal Assistance: Hiring a lawyer to handle paperwork can cost $500 to $1,500. This is optional but recommended to avoid mistakes.
These costs are fixed and required by U.S. immigration laws, so you cannot avoid them.
Wedding costs depend on what you want. A simple courthouse wedding costs around $100 to $500 for a marriage license and basic ceremony. A larger wedding with guests, a venue, and decorations can range from $10,000 to $23,000 or more. For example, a wedding in Japan can cost up to $30,000 due to traditions, while a modest U.S. wedding is much less.
During your relationship, you may want to send gifts or spend money on dates. Small gifts like flowers or perfumes cost $10 to $50. Larger gifts, like jewelry, can cost hundreds. Dates during your trip, such as dinners or outings, typically cost $300 to $1,000 for a week.
On average, the total cost of finding and marrying a mail order bride ranges from $5,000 to $20,000. This includes:
- Online dating: $1,000 to $1,500 over several months
- Travel: $2,000 to $4,000 for a two-week trip
- K-1 visa: $2,000 to $2,800
- Wedding: $100 to $10,000 or more
- Gifts and dates: $500 to $1,000
These numbers vary based on your choices, the bride’s country, and how long the process takes. For example, marrying a woman from Colombia may cost less than one from Japan due to lower travel expenses.

Your Mail Order Bride Spendings Table for Different Regions
Asia | Eastern Europe | Latin America | |
Online dating sites | $400-$600/month | $300-$500/month | $250-$450/month |
2-week trip to the bride’s country | $2,000 – the cheapest countries$6,000 – the most expensive countries | $2,000-$3,000 | $2,800 – the cheapest countries$4,000 – the most expensive countries |
Visa expenses | Around $2,400 | Around $2,400 | Around $2,400 |
Average wedding expenses | $20,000 and more | Up to $10,000 | Up to $8,000 |
How to Save Money on Mail Order Bride Costs
You can reduce expenses without hurting your chances of finding a bride. Here are ways to save money while using National Bridal Service.
Choose a Cost-Effective Destination
Countries like Colombia and Mexico are cheaper to visit than Japan or South Korea. Airfare and living costs are lower in Latin America, which makes it a budget-friendly option. For example, a trip to Mexico costs $300 to $600, while a trip to Asia can exceed $2,000.
Use Credits Wisely
A credit system lets you control spending. Stick to text messages instead of video calls to save credits. Take advantage of free credits for new users and discounts for verified accounts. For example, 35 free credits can cover initial chats, which lets you test the platform without spending much.
Plan Travel in Low Season
Traveling during off-peak seasons, like fall or winter, can cut flight and hotel costs. For example, a flight to Poland in November is often cheaper than in summer. Use sites like SkyScanner to compare prices and find deals.
Keep the Wedding Simple
A courthouse wedding or small ceremony with close family saves thousands compared to a large event. If you want a bigger wedding, consider hosting it in the U.S. rather than abroad to avoid high venue costs in countries like Japan.
Limit Gifts
Small, thoughtful gifts like flowers or a $20 bouquet are enough to show interest. Avoid expensive gifts like jewelry or electronics unless you’re sure about the relationship.
Compare Agency Services
Some agencies charge high fees for services like translation or matchmaking. Compare services with others to ensure you get the best value.
What You Should Not Save On
While saving money is smart, some areas require investment to ensure safety and success.
Safety and Security
In 2022, the Federal Trade Commission reported 70,000 victims of dating site scams. Never use free dating sites, as they often lack security and have more fake profiles. Paying for our premium features, like profile verification, protects you from scams like catfishing or phishing.
Communication
Building a relationship requires regular contact. Skimping on messages or video calls can make it hard to connect with your potential bride. Spend enough credits to maintain consistent communication, especially in the early stages. Video calls, though more expensive, help you confirm the person is real and build trust.
Travel
Meeting in person is important. Don’t skip a trip to save money, as it’s the only way to know if the relationship will work. A single trip costing $2,000 to $4,000 is worth it to confirm your connection before moving forward with a visa.
Visa and Legal Fees
The K-1 visa process is complex, and mistakes can delay or deny approval. Pay the full $2,790 for the visa and consider hiring a lawyer for $500 to $1,500 to handle paperwork correctly. This ensures your fiancée can enter the U.S. legally.
Health and Background Checks
Your fiancée needs a medical exam for the K-1 visa, which costs $200 to $500. Skipping this can result in visa rejection. Background checks, often part of agency fees, are also important to ensure safety. Our platform includes these checks to protect you.
Why Choose National Bridal Service?
At National Bridal Service, we work with trusted partner dating sites to make finding a foreign bride easy and secure. Our platform connects you with women from around the world while ensuring safety and convenience. Here’s what we offer:
- Verified Profiles: We collaborate with our partner sites to verify profiles, which reduces the risk of scams. Unlike free dating sites with many fake accounts, we prioritize your safety.
- Affordable Credits: Our credit packages start at $2.99, and new users receive free credits to begin their search. This makes it cost-effective to connect with potential brides.
- Dedicated Support: Our team, along with our partner sites, assists with communication and planning to help you avoid common issues and build strong relationships.
- Wide Selection: Through our partnerships, you can connect with women from countries like Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Colombia, and more.
We comply with laws like IMBRA and VAWA to protect both you and your potential bride. Our focus is on creating genuine connections, not just transactions, which helps you find a partner for a lasting marriage.
How Much Do Mail Order Brides Cost in Different Regions: Cheapest vs. Most Expensive
What is a bride price in Europe, Asia, and Latin America? The cost will definitely differ from region to region, with the cheapest mail order bride price in Latin America and the highest mail order bride price in Western Europe and East Asia. Let’s look at the cheap, mid-range, and high-range options you have:
- Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia). Living costs are low, English is widely spoken in the Philippines, and long stays are affordable. Travel is the biggest expense if you’re flying from North America or Europe.
- Latin America (Colombia, Peru, Dominican Republic). Flights are shorter from the U.S., local prices are modest, and many women speak some English, so translation fees are minimal.
- Caucasus & small Eastern European countries (Georgia, Armenia, Moldova). Accommodation, food, and translation services are cheap compared to Western Europe.
These countries are the most affordable because they offer really affordable cost of living + dating apps, especially free ones, are very popular there, which also reduces the cost of mail order bride romance.
- Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Balkans). Popular destinations mean higher agency fees. Big cities also push up costs for hotels, restaurants, and travel.
- Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica). Southern destinations require longer, pricier flights, and cities like Buenos Aires or San José can be expensive.
Unlike with the cheapest countries, in these regions, ladies use matchmaking agencies rather than regular dating apps to find international partners. It can increase the cost of online dating. Besides, the popularity of cities is higher in tourism matters, which also contributes to the higher mail order bride pricing.
- East Asia (Japan, South Korea, sometimes China). Agencies here are very expensive. Travel, hotels, and translation also cost more. Multiple trips are usually needed before a serious commitment.
- Wealthier parts of the world (Singapore, Western Europe). International matchmaking is rare here, and when available, it’s marketed as a premium service.
In these regions, international matchmaking is on a top level, which means higher safety and also the highest price. The cost of living and traveling can also reach the skyscrapers’ height, although it’s worth it if you are interested in long-term and quality connections.
Ethical & Legal Realities of “Buying” a Mail Order Bride
When you hear the phrase “mail order bride cost”, you should understand that the actual purchase doesn’t take place here. It’s absolutely legal to “order” a mail bride because you don’t buy her like goods but invest in means that help in search and building communication with this woman. For example, you pay for credit packages, a trip to a bride’s country, or K-1 visa fees for your soon-to-be wife.
Legitimate online dating services that charge for communication tools with mail order brides are just safe and effective methods to meet love: they are legitimate not because they let you legally buy someone; they are legitimate because they contribute to providing authentic communication and also monitor any traces of human trafficking on the platforms. Unfortunately, there can be cases of human trafficking, especially among mail order brides from third-world countries. That’s why it’s important to choose only trustworthy websites for matchmaking.
Final Thoughts
So, how much is a mail order bride? Finding a mail order bride involves costs ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, which depends on your choices. You can save by choosing affordable destinations, using credits wisely, and keeping the wedding simple. Nevertheless, don’t cut corners on safety, communication, travel, or legal fees.
Start your search today at nationalbridalservice.com. With us, you’re one step closer to finding your future wife.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to use online dating sites instead of mail order bride agencies?
Absolutely yes. Online dating sites can cost you around $400 per month, and you may also find a woman in a shorter period, while mail order bride agencies charge their services in thousands of dollars. It’s because they charge you for translation and K-1 visa assistance and also help with courtship tips.
Can there be any hidden expenses that are rarely discussed when it comes to mail order bride pricing?
Yes, there are hidden fees that you need to consider. The first ones are for online dating services that are not that obvious, such as message translation. Some mail bride services charge for this tool. Secondly, a lot of men overlook relocation expenses like housing and transportation for their mail order brides once they arrive in the USA. It seems apparent, but a lot of guys get surprised by how much these expenses can actually take.
What is better: a monthly subscription or buying credit packages?
Both options allow you some perks. Monthly subscriptions are convenient in the way that you pay once and don’t think about fees for a month. Yet, with credit packages, you can test features on the site to understand whether the platform fits your needs or not. Thus, you save up on unnecessary expenses.