Overseas Hiring Cost Calculator
See what a full-time hire abroad really costs, and how much you'd save compared with hiring at home.
Role hiring guides: how we recruit SDRs, sales reps and closers, virtual assistants, executive assistants, customer support reps, bilingual support, bookkeepers, developers, video editors and dispatchers. By industry: HVAC & home services, law firms, real estate, trucking & logistics, dental, medical, insurance, accounting firms, marketing agencies. Popular combinations: SDRs in Mexico, VAs in Colombia, dispatchers in the Philippines, French-English support in Morocco, offshore staff for UK firms.
What does it cost to hire overseas? Through Talentige, a full-time overseas professional typically earns $800 to $2,500 a month, depending on the role, country and experience. The same role costs about $4,900 to $16,200 a month in the US once employer benefits and payroll costs are added to the median wage. An average full-time employee costs about $4,980 a month in the UK, $5,020 in Canada, $7,060 in Australia and $5,690 across the EU (in USD).
That gap is why most clients don't stop at one hire. We've made 1,750+ placements, including 500+ in Morocco, 500+ in the Philippines, 500+ in Latin America and 250+ in Egypt. Every hire is full-time, works your hours and works only for you, and you pay nothing until you hire.
Last updated October 14, 2026 · By the Talentige recruitment team · Overseas ranges from Talentige placements; home-market costs from BLS, ONS, HMRC, Statistics Canada, CRA, ABS and Eurostat. Sources.
The five layers of overseas hiring cost
Most "cost of hiring overseas" articles stop at salary. That's only the first layer. Here's everything you'll actually pay for, and what the calculator includes.
1. Monthly pay: what overseas professionals really earn
Overseas pay isn't low because the talent is weaker. It's lower because the cost of living is lower. A strong SDR in Mexico City earns a very good local salary at $1,200 to $2,000 a month; the same skills in the US command about $5,830 a month before benefits. You're paying a fair, competitive wage in a different economy, and in our experience that's exactly what keeps good people in the role.
Pay varies most by three things: the role (a senior developer earns more than a data entry clerk anywhere), the language mix (a bilingual French-English or Spanish-English agent earns about $1,600 a month, against roughly $1,400 for a comparable English-only agent), and seniority. Sales reps, account executives and closers typically earn $1,300 to $1,600 a month plus commission, so your cost rises only when they sell.
2. Recruiting: the fee most comparisons leave out
Hiring abroad on your own means writing job ads in a new market, screening hundreds of applicants, testing English and role skills, checking backgrounds and writing a contract. Freelance platforms charge a percentage of every payment for as long as the person works for you. An employer of record charges a monthly fee per employee on top of salary. See our comparison of EOR vs staffing agency vs Upwork for each platform's published fees.
Talentige works differently. You pay nothing until you hire. When you do, there's a one-time placement fee that depends on the role, and no retainer by default. If you'd like us to handle payment and ongoing management each month, there's a small optional retainer. That's it: no markup on your hire's pay.
3. Payment: through Talentige or directly
You choose how your hire is paid. Talentige can handle it for you each month, or you can pay your hire directly and we'll walk you through setting it up. UK clients can pay in pounds or US dollars.
| Option | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Through Talentige | We pay your hire each month; you get one invoice | Teams that want zero admin |
| Wise | Online transfer in the hire's local currency at the mid-market rate plus a fee | Most direct payers |
| Remitely | Transfer app built for sending money abroad, often with fast delivery | Hires who prefer it in their country |
| Bank transfer | International wire from your business account | Larger amounts, finance-team workflows |
Fees and exchange margins change, so check each provider's current pricing page. Our guide to paying international employees compares the options in detail.
4. Contractors, not employees: why it matters for cost
Talentige hires join your team as full-time independent contractors. They work only for you, on your schedule, but you don't run foreign payroll, register a local entity or pay foreign employment taxes. That's the main reason the overseas figure in the calculator is close to the total cost, while a home-market hire costs roughly 1.08 to 1.43 times their salary before you've bought a desk.
If you need a formal local employment contract, with local benefits and the employer's legal obligations, an employer of record is the alternative. Expect a significantly higher monthly cost. For most sales, support, admin and operations roles, a well-written contractor agreement is what our clients use. This is general information, not legal or tax advice; your accountant can confirm what fits your company.
5. Hidden costs to budget for
Plan for these
- Software seats your hire will use (CRM, help desk, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365)
- A quality headset, and a laptop if the hire's own isn't up to spec
- Transfer fees and exchange margins if you pay directly
- Your own time in month one: training, call reviews, feedback
- One or two local public holidays a year in some markets
Included with Talentige
- Sourcing, screening, interviews and role-specific assessments
- Formal English tests, plus French, Spanish or Arabic where needed
- Background checks and the contract
- Onboarding support and Hubstaff time tracking
- A 90-day replacement guarantee (terms depend on the role and offer)
Time zones and ramp-up: the costs nobody puts in a spreadsheet
A cheaper hire who's asleep when your customers call isn't cheaper. Every Talentige hire works your hours, whatever shift that means locally. Latin America overlaps naturally with the US. Morocco, Egypt and Eastern Europe are close to UK and European hours and work US shifts in their afternoon and evening. The Philippines has a long tradition of night-shift work for US companies.
See the data as a table
| City | Hours vs New York (winter) |
|---|---|
| Mexico City | −1 |
| Bogotá | 0 |
| Buenos Aires, São Paulo | +2 |
| Casablanca | +6 |
| Prague | +6 |
| Cairo, Sofia | +7 |
| Manila | +13 |
Ramp-up: budget 90 days, not 9
Any new hire, at home or abroad, takes time to reach full output. The difference with an overseas hire is that the cost of that ramp-up is a fraction of what it would be at home, so you break even far sooner. A realistic plan:
Set targets from your current team's numbers, not an industry average, and review them at day 30, 60 and 90. If a hire isn't working out, our 90-day replacement guarantee covers you (terms depend on the role and offer).
Turn the number into a shortlist
Tell us the role and the hours. You'll interview 3–5 tested finalists in about 14 days, and pay nothing until you hire.
Book a free hiring call → See pricing- ✓ Pay nothing until you hire
- ✓ No retainer by default
- ✓ Full-time, your hours, only for you
- ✓ 90-day replacement guarantee
Typical monthly pay by country and role (Talentige placements, USD)
These are the same ranges published on our country and role pages, from Talentige's own placements as of October 2026. "About" means a typical single figure; "From" means it depends on seniority with no fixed top end. "On the call" means we quote that role in that market for your exact needs. US figures are fully loaded monthly costs (BLS median wage × 2,080 hours × 1.43, divided by 12).
Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and the rest of Latin America
| Role | Latin America (other) | US cost with overhead (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual / admin assistant | $1,000–$1,800 | About $5,670 |
| Executive assistant | $1,000–$1,800 | About $9,130 |
| SDR / appointment setter | $1,200–$2,000 | About $8,340 |
| Sales rep / AE / closer (+ commission) | $1,300–$1,600 | About $8,340 |
| Customer support (English) | $900–$1,500 | About $5,340 |
| Bilingual customer support | About $1,600 | About $5,340 |
| IT support specialist | $1,100–$1,600 | About $7,370 |
| QA tester | $1,200–$1,700 | About $12,430 |
| Junior developer | $1,200–$1,600 | About $12,540 |
| Senior developer | From $2,000 | About $16,210 |
| Data entry / back office | $1,000–$1,100 | About $4,930 |
| Dispatcher | $1,300–$1,800 | About $6,000 |
| Video editor | On the call | About $8,990 |
| Bookkeeper / finance assistant | $1,000–$1,600 | About $6,040 |
| Marketing specialist | $1,000–$1,800 | About $9,390 |
One range covers our Latin American markets; the exact figure depends on the country, city and experience. See Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Latin America.
Morocco and Egypt (North Africa)
| Role | Morocco | Egypt | US cost with overhead (per month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual / admin assistant | $1,000–$1,300 | $900–$1,100 | About $5,670 |
| Executive assistant | $1,300–$1,600 | $1,100–$1,400 | About $9,130 |
| SDR / appointment setter | About $1,400 | About $1,000 | About $8,340 |
| Sales rep / AE / closer (+ commission) | $1,300–$1,600 | $1,300–$1,600 | About $8,340 |
| Customer support (English) | $1,000–$1,300 | $800–$1,000 | About $5,340 |
| Bilingual customer support | About $1,600 | About $1,600 | About $5,340 |
| IT support specialist | $1,100–$1,400 | $900–$1,200 | About $7,370 |
| QA tester | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,000–$1,400 | About $12,430 |
| Junior developer | About $1,200 | $1,000–$1,300 | About $12,540 |
| Senior developer | $2,000–$2,500 | $1,500–$2,200 | About $16,210 |
| Data entry / back office | $900–$1,100 | $800–$900 | About $4,930 |
| Dispatcher | $1,300–$1,800 | $1,300–$1,800 | About $6,000 |
| Video editor | On the call | On the call | About $8,990 |
| Bookkeeper / finance assistant | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,000–$1,300 | About $6,040 |
| Marketing specialist | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,000–$1,300 | About $9,390 |
Morocco is our main market for French-English roles; Egypt for Arabic-English and our most cost-effective option. See Morocco, Egypt and North Africa.
The Philippines
| Role | Philippines | US cost with overhead (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual / admin assistant | $1,000–$1,300 | About $5,670 |
| Executive assistant | $1,300–$1,600 | About $9,130 |
| SDR / appointment setter | $800–$1,500 | About $8,340 |
| Sales rep / AE / closer (+ commission) | $1,300–$1,600 | About $8,340 |
| Customer support (English) | $1,000–$1,300 | About $5,340 |
| Bilingual customer support | On the call | About $5,340 |
| IT support specialist | On the call | About $7,370 |
| QA tester | On the call | About $12,430 |
| Junior developer | On the call | About $12,540 |
| Senior developer | On the call | About $16,210 |
| Data entry / back office | $1,000–$1,100 | About $4,930 |
| Dispatcher | $1,300–$1,800 | About $6,000 |
| Video editor | On the call | About $8,990 |
| Bookkeeper / finance assistant | $1,200–$1,600 | About $6,040 |
| Marketing specialist | $1,200–$1,600 | About $9,390 |
We recruit IT support, QA and developer roles in Morocco, Latin America and Egypt rather than the Philippines. See hiring in the Philippines.
Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Czechia and neighbours)
In Eastern Europe we recruit mainly developers. Pay depends heavily on seniority, stack and city, so we quote it for your role on the call rather than publish a range. For context, a US software developer costs about $16,210 a month fully loaded at the median wage. See hiring in Eastern Europe.
What the same hire costs at home: US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU
To compare fairly you need the fully loaded cost of a home-market employee: salary plus the employer's mandatory contributions and benefits. Here's how we calculate each market.
| Home market | Employer cost per month, local currency | Per month in USD | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Role-specific (see calculator), e.g. VA about $5,670, SDR about $8,340, senior developer about $16,210 a month | BLS median wage for the matching occupation × 2,080 hours × 1.43 | |
| United Kingdom | £3,760 | About $4,980 | £39,039 median full-time salary + 15% employer NICs + 3% pension (ONS, HMRC), all occupations |
| Canada | CA$7,150 | About $5,020 | CA$79,761 average full-time wages + employer CPP, CPP2 and EI (StatCan, CRA 2026), all occupations |
| Australia | A$10,110 | About $7,060 | A$108,352 average full-time earnings + 12% super (ABS, ATO), all occupations |
| European Union (average) | €5,090 | About $5,690 | €34.90 average hourly labour cost × 1,750 hours (Eurostat 2025), all occupations |
- United States. Role-specific. We take the national median hourly wage for the closest matching occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025), convert it to a 2,080-hour year and multiply by 1.43. That multiplier comes from BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation: in June 2026, private employers spent $46.89 per hour worked on total compensation, of which $32.82 was wages.
- United Kingdom. The ONS median gross salary for full-time employees (£39,039, April 2025), plus 15% employer National Insurance above £5,000 and the 3% minimum auto-enrolment pension, for £45,129 a year (about £3,760 a month). Even at the National Living Wage (£12.71 an hour from April 2026), a full-time employee costs about £2,360 a month with NICs and pension. More in our guide for UK firms.
- Canada. Average full-time weekly wages from the Labour Force Survey (CA$1,533.87, July 2026) × 52, plus 2026 employer CPP (5.95%), CPP2 (4% above CA$74,600) and EI (2.282%). Provincial health taxes, workers' compensation and vacation pay would add more.
- Australia. ABS average weekly ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults (A$2,083.70, May 2026) × 52, plus the 12% Superannuation Guarantee. State payroll tax and workers' compensation are excluded.
- European Union. Eurostat's 2025 average hourly labour cost (€34.90, which already includes employer social contributions) × 1,750 hours worked a year. Costs range from €12.00 an hour in Bulgaria to €56.80 in Luxembourg, so treat it as an EU-wide average.
UK, Canadian, Australian and EU figures are national averages across all occupations, so they're a benchmark rather than a role-specific quote. Sales, technical and executive-support roles usually cost more than the average; data entry and entry-level support usually cost less.
Methodology: how the calculator works
- Overseas pay. The typical full-time monthly pay range for the role and country, from Talentige placements. Shown per month, per hire; mid-range pay is the midpoint of the typical range.
- Home-market cost. The fully loaded annual employer cost described above, divided by 12 to give a monthly figure.
- Savings. Monthly home-market cost minus monthly overseas pay at mid-range, shown as a percentage, with the yearly total (× 12 × number of hires) as a secondary figure.
- Currency. Pay is agreed in US dollars (or pounds for UK clients). Other currencies are converted at European Central Bank reference rates on 13 October 2026: $1 = £0.755, €0.894, CA$1.424, A$1.433.
- What's not included. Our one-time placement fee (quoted on the call), software, equipment and payment-provider fees. Home-market figures exclude office space, equipment and recruitment, so the real gap is usually larger.
How to estimate your own overseas hiring cost
- Pick the role. Choose the closest role, from virtual assistant to senior developer.
- Pick the country you'd hire from. Choose a market such as Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines, Morocco or Egypt.
- Pick your home market. Compare against a US, UK, Canadian, Australian or EU employee.
- Set headcount. Enter how many people you'd hire; the result shows in your home currency.
- Read your savings. See what you'd pay a month, what the same hire costs at home each month and what you save. Email the breakdown to yourself or book a free call.
Want a line-by-line version? Read our international hiring cost breakdown, our guide to hiring international employees, or see how we help you hire overseas employees.
Frequently asked questions about overseas hiring costs
How much does it cost to hire an employee overseas?
What is the cheapest country to hire remote workers from?
Are overseas hires employees or contractors?
How do I pay an overseas hire?
What does Talentige charge?
How much does a UK, Canadian or Australian employee really cost?
Why does a US hire cost 1.43 times their salary?
Will an overseas hire work my hours?
How quickly can I hire?
What hidden costs should I budget for?
Can I hire developers in Eastern Europe?
Is the calculator's data up to date?
See real candidates, not just numbers
One call, and we'll confirm the exact pay for your role, hours and market, then start sourcing.
Book my free call →- ✓ 3–5 finalists in about 14 days
- ✓ 1,750+ hires made
- ✓ Pay nothing until you hire
- ✓ Questions? Contact us
Sources
- Talentige placement data, as of October 2026: 1,750+ hires in total, including 500+ in Morocco, 500+ in the Philippines, 500+ in Latin America and 250+ in Egypt. Typical full-time monthly pay by role and market.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national median hourly wages (25th percentile for junior developers). bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2026 (released September 9, 2026): private industry total compensation $46.89 per hour, wages and salaries $32.82. bls.gov/ecec
- Office for National Statistics, Employee earnings in the UK: 2025 (ASHE): median gross annual earnings for full-time employees £39,039. ons.gov.uk
- HM Revenue & Customs, Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027: employer Class 1 NICs 15% above £5,000; National Living Wage £12.71. The Pensions Regulator: 3% minimum employer pension contribution. gov.uk
- Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, July 2026, Table 11: average weekly wages of full-time employees CA$1,533.87. statcan.gc.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency, 2026 CPP contribution rates (5.95% up to CA$74,600; CPP2 4% to CA$85,000) and EI premium rates (employer 2.282%, maximum CA$1,572.30). canada.ca
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026: full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings A$2,083.70. Australian Taxation Office: Superannuation Guarantee 12%. abs.gov.au
- Eurostat, Hourly labour costs 2025: EU average €34.90, from €12.00 (Bulgaria) to €56.80 (Luxembourg); non-wage share 24.8%. ec.europa.eu/eurostat
- European Central Bank euro foreign exchange reference rates, 13 October 2026, via the Frankfurter API: $1 = £0.75492, €0.89381, CA$1.4241, A$1.4331.
- IANA time zone database (America/Mexico_City, America/Bogota, America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires, America/Sao_Paulo, Africa/Casablanca, Europe/Prague, Africa/Cairo, Europe/Sofia, Asia/Manila).