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Developer costs: US vs Latin America

What a developer costs in the US and in Latin America, role by role, with every number sourced and the method shown.

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Short answer

Hiring through Plugg in Latin America typically saves 40% to 70% against the cost of a US developer. Every figure is a senior-level monthly cost from Plugg, and the difference column is the US cost minus the Latin America cost.

The table below shows senior-level monthly cost for the roles US teams hire again and again, with the difference between the US and Latin America. Open any role page for skills, screening and FAQs.

What the table does not include

The figures are Plugg's senior-level monthly benchmarks and are not a quote. For a real, all-in number on your role, request developer rates and the Plugg team will quote it directly. For a deeper read on what to compare, see LATAM vs US developer cost: what to compare before you decide.

Developer costs by role

Senior-level monthly cost per developer, US versus Latin America.

US vs Latin America: senior developer cost per month (USD, October 2026)
Role (Senior)US monthly median costLatin America monthly median costDifference
React developers$22,000$7,000$15,000
Java developers$12,500$6,000$6,500
Python developers$15,200$6,200$9,000
Backend developers$15,200$6,200$9,000
Node.js developers$22,000$7,000$15,000
Full-stack developers$22,000$7,000$15,000
.NET developers$12,500$6,000$6,500
DevOps engineers$19,000$7,500$11,500
Data engineers$24,000$8,500$15,500
QA engineers$14,000$5,000$9,000
AI and ML engineers$24,000$8,500$15,500
How we calculated these numbers

What the figures are. Monthly cost for a senior-level hire, in US dollars. The US column is what the employer pays each month for a US hire, and the Latin America column is what a comparable hire in Latin America costs each month. The figures come from Plugg Technologies.

Difference. We subtract the Latin America figure from the US figure. Multiply it by 12 for a rough yearly saving.

These figures are illustrative, based on typical senior-level ranges, and are not a quote. Your actual number depends on the role, seniority, stack and country. Request developer rates for a real number.

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Not our first placement

Hire LATAM Devs is run by Plugg Technologies, a nearshore recruiting firm that has placed engineers in Latin America for 11 years.

500+placements across Latin America
11years recruiting in LATAM
91%developer retention in 2026
3 daysaverage time to a vetted shortlist
Plugg helped us hire 2 senior full-stack engineers. Since we’re early-stage, there’s no margin for error. They delivered some of the best React/NodeJS developers we’ve seen and also helped with the technical vetting. We liked their model, because the engineers feel like they are part of our team, unlike a regular dev shop.
Avram SchlaksFounder & CEO, Blinkfreight

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Frequently asked questions

How much cheaper is it to hire a developer in Latin America?

Plugg reports savings of 40% to 70% compared with hiring locally. Individual rates vary by role, seniority and country, so request rates for your exact role.

Why is the US cost higher than the salary?

Employers also pay payroll taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions and paid leave. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts benefits at 30.0% of total employer compensation for private industry, so total cost is about 1.43 times wages.

Are these figures a quote?

No. They are illustrative ranges based on public data and Plugg's published benchmarks. Your actual number depends on role, seniority, stack and country.

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