Each country has a different mix of rates, English level, time-zone overlap and talent depth. Compare them before you choose.
Latin America runs within one to five hours of US time zones, so developers there work a real part of your day. Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and El Salvador sit closest to US Central time, while Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay are a couple of hours ahead of US Eastern.
Plugg Technologies recruits across the region and can tell you which country fits a given role. The country pages cover tech hubs, working-day overlap, English, universities and the practical side of hiring.
Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey
6 to 7 hours of workday overlap with US Eastern and 7 to 8 with US PacificBogota, Medellin
7 to 8 hours of workday overlap with US Eastern and 6 to 7 with US PacificLima, Arequipa
7 to 8 hours of workday overlap with US Eastern and 6 to 7 with US PacificBuenos Aires, Cordoba
7 to 8 hours of workday overlap with US Eastern and 4 to 5 with US PacificSao Paulo, Florianopolis
7 to 8 hours of workday overlap with US Eastern and 4 to 5 with US PacificMontevideo
7 to 8 hours of workday overlap with US Eastern and 4 to 5 with US PacificManagua, Leon, Granada
6 to 7 hours of workday overlap with US Eastern and 7 to 8 with US PacificOverlap assumes a developer workday of 9am to 6pm local time and a US workday of 9am to 5pm local time.
| Country | Tech hubs | With US Eastern | With US Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey | 7 to 6 hours | 7 to 8 hours |
| Colombia | Bogota, Medellin | 8 to 7 hours | 6 to 7 hours |
| Peru | Lima, Arequipa | 8 to 7 hours | 6 to 7 hours |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires, Cordoba | 7 to 8 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| Brazil | Sao Paulo, Florianopolis | 7 to 8 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | 7 to 8 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| Nicaragua | Managua, Leon, Granada | 7 to 6 hours | 7 to 8 hours |
Hire LATAM Devs is run by Plugg Technologies, a nearshore recruiting firm that has placed engineers in Latin America for 11 years.
Plugg makes near-shoring as easy as hiring locally. Recently we had a need for a Zbrush designer. Within a week we had identified a highly skilled, mid-career candidate in Mexico who we ended up hiring at less than half of what we would have paid in California. After 7 months on our team, our Zbrush artist continues to do great work.
Engineering teams that hired through Plugg
It depends on what you need. Time-zone overlap favors Mexico, Colombia and Central America for US Central and West Coast teams, while Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay overlap well with US Eastern. Talent depth and rates also vary by city and role, so compare the country pages and ask Plugg which market is strongest for your stack.
No. Plugg handles local employment, payroll and tax compliance, so you do not need a local entity to hire a developer there.
Yes. Many teams hire in two or three countries to balance time zones and talent pools. Plugg manages payroll and compliance in each.
One call, then vetted candidates in about 3 days.