EOR cost by country is the first number every global hiring budget needs, and it is also the hardest to pin down. Provider fees range from under $50 to more than $800 per employee per month. On top of that fee sit salary and mandatory employer contributions, which swing from a few percent in one country to over a third of salary in another.
In this guide, we will walk you through typical EOR fees for 14 countries, the employer contributions behind them, and the pricing models providers use. We will also cover the hidden fees that inflate invoices.
How Much Does an Employer of Record Cost?
Most EOR providers charge between $199 and $800 per employee per month, and the 2026 market median sits near $399. Regional specialists price below that band, and enterprise platforms price above it. Some providers charge a percentage of salary instead, typically 10 to 20 percent.
The fee is only one of three numbers on your invoice. Your true employer of record cost is the sum of gross salary, mandatory employer contributions, and the EOR fee. In most markets, the fee is the smallest of the three.
What Makes Up Your EOR Costs
Every EOR invoice follows the same formula, and you should read quotes against it:
- Gross salary: What you agreed to pay the employee, in local currency.
- Employer statutory contributions: Pension, social security, and insurance payments required by local law. These range from roughly 5 percent of salary in Singapore to more than 30 percent in Colombia.
- The EOR fee: The provider's charge for legal employment, payroll, and compliance.
The contributions are identical no matter which provider you choose. Only the fee changes between quotes, so that is the number to compare.
EOR Pricing Models: Flat Fee vs Percentage of Salary
Providers price in one of two ways, and the right model depends on the salaries you pay.
- A flat monthly fee stays the same whether the employee earns $2,000 or $12,000 per month.
- A percentage model, usually 10 to 20 percent of gross salary, grows with every raise.
The rule is simple. If you hire senior, well-paid talent, choose flat fees. If you hire junior roles in lower-salary markets, a percentage model can cost less. Model both against your actual salaries before signing.
EOR Fees by Country: The 2026 Tables
The tables below show typical monthly EOR fees and the employer contributions behind them. Fees reflect published 2026 market ranges, and your quote will vary by provider and headcount.
South and Southeast Asia
| Country | Typical EOR Fee (USD/month) | Employer Contributions | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | $200 β $450 | ~12 β 17% (EPF, ESI) | Multi-state labour rules |
| Pakistan | $150 β $400 | ~6 β 12% (EOBI, social security) | Provincial variations |
| Philippines | $200 β $450 | ~13 β 14% (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG) | Mandatory 13th-month pay |
| Indonesia | $300 β $500 | ~10 β 12% (BPJS schemes) | THR religious holiday bonus |
| Malaysia | $250 β $450 | ~13 β 15% (EPF, SOCSO, EIS) | EPF rate tiers by salary |
| Thailand | $300 β $500 | ~5% (capped Social Security) | Heavy statutory severance |
| Vietnam | $350 β $500 | ~21.5% (SI, HI, UI) | Customary 13th-month bonus |
This region offers the lowest EOR fees in the world, and the gap between provider types is widest here. Regional specialists such as Recruitgo start from $49.99 per employee per month in these markets, while global platforms commonly start near $599. Both employ the same person under the same law. You are paying for breadth of coverage, not a different employee.
In the Philippines, mandatory 13th-month pay adds 8.33 percent to annual salary cost. Indonesia's THR bonus adds roughly one month. Budget salaries across 13 payments, not 12. Philippine contribution rates are set by the government and published by the Social Security System. They have risen in recent years, so check the current schedule before locking a budget.
East Asia and the Gulf
| Country | Typical EOR Fee (USD/month) | Employer Contributions | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $500 β $700 | ~17% CPF (residents only) | No CPF for work pass holders |
| Hong Kong | $400 β $650 | 5% MPF (capped) | 15 statutory holidays in 2026 |
| UAE | $400 β $700 | Pension for nationals only | Health insurance and gratuity for expats |
These are low-contribution, high-fee markets. Singapore's CPF applies only to citizens and permanent residents, and Hong Kong's MPF is capped at a modest monthly amount. The compliance work sits in leave and holiday rules instead. Hong Kong's statutory holidays reach 15 in 2026 and will rise to 17 by 2030, under a schedule set by the Labour Department.
The UAE has no employer pension for expatriates, who make up most of the workforce. Instead, you fund mandatory health insurance and an end-of-service gratuity that accrues with every year worked. Those two items are the real UAE employment cost.
The Americas, Europe and Oceania
| Country | Typical EOR Fee (USD/month) | Employer Contributions | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $400 β $700 | ~10 β 13% (FICA, unemployment) | Health insurance expectations |
| United Kingdom | $400 β $700 | 15% National Insurance + 3% pension | Employer NI rose in recent years |
| Australia | $500 β $700 | 12% superannuation + payroll tax | State payroll tax varies |
| Colombia | $400 β $700 | ~30%+ (health, pension, parafiscales) | Prima 13th salary and cesantΓas |
Contributions, not fees, separate these markets. A US hire carries modest statutory costs but strong market expectations for health cover, commonly $500 to $1,500 per month of employer share. The UK adds 15 percent employer National Insurance plus pension auto-enrolment. Australia's superannuation guarantee sits at 12 percent of salary.
Colombia is the outlier. Employer contributions exceed 30 percent, and statutory extras like the prima bonus and cesantΓas severance fund push the loaded cost well above the salary you negotiated. Price Colombian offers on total cost, never on gross salary.
Hidden EOR Fees That Inflate Your Invoice
The headline fee is rarely the whole invoice, and hidden charges can add 20 to 30 percent. Watch for these line items before you sign:
- Setup and onboarding fees, typically $0 to $500 per new employee.
- Currency conversion markups on every payroll run, ranging from 0 to 8 percent by provider. Negotiate the rate and get it in writing.
- Security deposits, commonly one to two months of total employment cost.
- Offboarding and termination administration fees.
- Benefits administration charges layered on top of the benefits themselves.
- Extra charges for visa sponsorship, background checks, or equipment.
Every one of these is negotiable, and reputable providers disclose them upfront. Our checklist on what to look for in an EOR contract covers the exact clauses to review before signing.
How to Lower Your EOR Cost
Four levers move your per-employee price, and you control all of them:
- Negotiate on volume. Most providers discount from 10 employees, and enterprise deals commonly land 10 to 25 percent below list price.
- Match the pricing model to your salary levels. Choose flat fees for senior hires and percentage pricing for junior ones.
- Consider regional specialists for concentrated hiring. Their fees in their home markets undercut global platforms by hundreds of dollars per employee.
- Skip the add-ons you don't need, from equipment procurement to background checks you can run yourself.
When an Entity Becomes Cheaper Than an EOR
The biggest saving at scale is not a cheaper provider. It is switching to your own legal entity. If you expect 15 or more employees in one country, model an EOR-to-entity transition, because per-employee fees paid forever eventually cost more than running an entity.
The break-even point varies by market. It arrives at roughly 3 to 5 employees in high-fee countries like the UK or Singapore, and 15 to 25 in low-fee markets like the Philippines. Negotiate the transition pathway into your EOR contract upfront, so your employees can later move to your entity without disruption.
Compare Real EOR Prices for Your Countries
Ranges plan budgets, but your decision needs exact numbers for your countries and salaries. Use our free EOR cost calculator to estimate the fully loaded cost of each hire. Then compare providers side by side on pricing, coverage, and verified reviews. Start with your country list, and the shortlist builds itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get quick answers to common questions about eor cost by country: 2026 pricing guide with country tables
QHow much does an EOR cost per employee per month?
Most providers charge $199 to $800 per employee per month, with a 2026 market median near $399. Regional specialists in Asia start below $100, and enterprise platforms exceed $800.
QWhich countries have the cheapest EOR costs?
India, Pakistan, and the Philippines combine the lowest provider fees with modest employer contributions. Malaysia and Thailand sit close behind.
QWhy do Singapore and Australia cost more?
Provider fees run higher in high-salary, high-standard markets, and Australia adds a 12 percent superannuation contribution. Singapore's fees are high even though CPF doesn't apply to foreign work pass holders.
QIs a flat fee or percentage pricing better?
Flat fees favour senior, higher-paid hires because the fee never grows with salary. Percentage pricing can win for junior roles in low-salary markets. Model both before choosing.
QWhat is the difference between EOR fees and total EOR cost?
The fee is the provider's charge. Total cost adds gross salary and mandatory employer contributions, which usually dwarf the fee itself.
QIs an EOR cheaper than opening a legal entity?
For small teams, almost always. The break-even point ranges from roughly 3 to 5 employees in expensive markets like the UK to 15 to 25 in low-fee markets like the Philippines.
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Mahnoor Jehanzeb specializes in global employment law and EOR solutions. With years of experience in the industry, they help businesses navigate the complexities of international hiring.



