Hiring in Brazil vs hiring a remote developer in the U.S.
A remote U.S. senior engineer costs roughly $13,000 to $17,000 per month fully loaded. The Brazilian equivalent through a studio costs $4,900 with no benefits, payroll tax or severance to administer. You give up the same-passport convenience and, on the West Coast, some overlap. Everything else is close to equivalent.
Side by side
| Brazil | a U.S. remote hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost, senior | $4,900 flat | $13,000–17,000 fully loaded |
| Payroll, benefits, insurance | None — single invoice | Yours to run |
| Notice period | 30 days | At-will, but severance and morale costs are real |
| Time zone | UTC−3 | Whatever they choose |
| Hiring time | Candidates in about 5 business days | 6–12 weeks typical for senior roles |
| Equity expectations | None | Frequently expected |
When a U.S. remote hire is the better choice
- The role requires U.S. citizenship or a security clearance.
- You need someone in the office, or in front of customers on U.S. soil.
- You are hiring a founding engineer whose motivation depends on equity and ownership.
When Brazil is the better choice
- You need three engineers and can afford one U.S. salary.
- Your senior search has been open for two months with no shortlist.
- You want to add capacity without adding payroll, benefits administration or headcount approval.
We sell one side of this comparison, so read it with that in mind. The numbers in the table are the ones we would want a buyer to check independently — and the section above it is there because a comparison that never concedes anything is not a comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Do we still need to run payroll or file anything in the U.S.?
No. You receive one invoice from the studio for services, the same as any other vendor. Your accountant handles it as a business expense — confirm the specifics with them, since we do not give tax advice.
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Tell us the role. We come back with candidates.
A 20-minute call to scope the role, then vetted profiles within five business days. No fee to talk, no retainer, no exclusivity.