Free Tool

In-house vs Agency vs Offshore — Dev Cost Comparator

The sticker rate is never the real cost. Compare the true total of building software three ways. Every assumption is editable — it's an honest estimate, not a sales pitch.

Your project

Developers Seniority

Duration (months) Hours / week

In-house region

In-house base salary (USD/yr)

Agency rate ($/hr) Offshore rate ($/hr)

True-cost assumptions (% of salary)

Employer payroll tax% Benefits & insurance% Office & overhead% Equipment & software% Recruiting (amortized)% Management overhead% Attrition risk%

Estimates for 2026; adjust to your situation. Effective hourly assumes ~1,800 productive hours/year.

In-house team

$198,000

Effective $110/hr · true cost incl. burden over 6 months

Local / Western agency

$312,840

$150/hr · saves -$114,840 (-58%) vs in-house

Offshore team

Taapti

$52,140

$25/hr · saves $145,860 (74%) vs in-house

Get an exact quote

~2,086 engagement hours. Figures are estimates for planning, not a binding quote.