Arbitrum One vs Base fees: Base is 3.3× cheaper
Live network fees on both chains for the 14 assets they have in common, refreshed every 10 minutes.
| Arbitrum One | Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ethereum rollup (L2) | Ethereum rollup (L2) |
| Gas paid in | ETH | ETH |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-20 |
| Native transfer | $0.0012 | $0.00035 |
| Token transfer | $0.0035 | $0.0011 |
| DEX swap (approx.) | $0.0098 | $0.0030 |
| Token transfer, 24 h range | $0.0035 – $0.0037 | $0.0011 – $0.0011 |
Verdict
- Token transfers: Base is 3.3× cheaper than Arbitrum One right now ($0.0011 vs $0.0035), and cheaper for 14 of the 14 assets both networks support.
- Stablecoins: sending USDC costs $0.0035 on Arbitrum One vs $0.0011 on Base — Base wins, provided the recipient accepts deposits on it.
- Gas token: you need ETH on Arbitrum One and ETH on Base — the same asset, so one balance can be bridged between them.
- Speed: blocks every ~0.25 s on Arbitrum One vs ~2 s on Base.
Cost to send each asset: Arbitrum One vs Base
| Asset | Arbitrum One | Base | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH | $0.0012 | $0.00035 | Base |
| USDC | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| USDS | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| USDE | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| CBBTC | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| LINK | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| AAVE | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| ENA | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| MORPHO | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| CRV | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| SUSDE | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| SUSHI | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| 1INCH | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
| COMP | $0.0035 | $0.0011 | Base |
Transfer to an address that already holds the asset. New holders can cost more (Solana token-account rent, extra TRON energy). Exchange withdrawal fees are separate.
FAQ
Is Arbitrum One cheaper than Base?
For a token transfer, Base is currently 3.3× cheaper ($0.0011 vs $0.0035). Fees change every block; this comparison is refreshed every 10 minutes.
Can I send tokens from Arbitrum One to Base directly?
No. A regular transfer stays on one network. Moving assets between Arbitrum One and Base requires a bridge or an exchange that supports both networks, which adds its own fees.
Details: Arbitrum One gas fees · Base gas fees · all chains · methodology
Data updated: 2026-10-01 11:50 UTC.