Cost to hire in India — the complete 2026 guide.
Salary is only one piece of the cost equation. This hub breaks down the full cost of hiring in India — compliance, benefits, equipment, and management overhead — across individual roles and full team builds, with engagement models compared side by side.
How we think about cost
Cost figures on this page describe structural components and directional guidance, not fixed quotes. Actual cost depends on seniority, location, specific skills, engagement model, and current market conditions. Speak with Remvix for a quote calibrated to your specific requirements.
Five components, one all-in number.
Base salary
Typically 60–70% of total all-in cost. See the salary hub for role-specific bands.
Statutory compliance & benefits
PF, ESI, gratuity, and other India-mandated employer contributions — typically 12–18% of total cost.
Health & wellness benefits
Group health insurance and wellness stipends — typically 3–6% of total cost.
Equipment & infrastructure
Laptop, monitor, and secure device management — typically 2–4% of total cost.
HR & operations management
Workforce administration and performance management — typically 10–15% of total cost.
No entity setup required
Direct entity setup costs $50K–$100K and 12–18 months. Remvix's EOR model skips this entirely.
Dedicated employee vs contractor vs direct hire vs agency.
The engagement model you choose changes total cost-of-ownership significantly — not just the headline rate. Each individual cost page breaks down the specific tradeoffs for that role, but the general pattern holds across all roles: dedicated EOR employment typically produces the lowest total cost-of-ownership for engagements longer than 6 months, due to lower attrition and higher productivity than contractor relationships.
What individual roles cost to hire.
Cost to Hire Software Developers
Base salary is only 60–70% of true hiring cost. Here's the full breakdown.
Cost to Hire React Developers
React developer cost varies significantly by Next.js depth and TypeScript fluency — here's the full picture.
Cost to Hire Node.js Developers
NestJS and TypeScript depth are the primary cost drivers within the Node.js talent pool.
Cost to Hire AI Engineers
The gap between demo-level and production AI experience is the single largest cost driver in this category.
Cost to Hire Data Scientists
Production ML deployment experience and business communication skill are the two most significant cost differentiators.
What it costs to build a full team.
Cost to Hire a Development Team
Team-level cost depends more on composition and seniority mix than on any single role's price tag.
Cost to Hire an AI Team
AI teams require a different composition than general engineering teams — and a different cost calculation.
Cost to Hire a Support Team
24/7 coverage requires a minimum viable team size — here's how the math works.
Common questions about hiring costs.
What's the difference between salary and total cost to hire?+
Salary typically represents 60–70% of total all-in cost. Statutory compliance, benefits, equipment, and management overhead make up the remainder — see our salary hub for role-specific compensation bands.
Do I need an Indian entity to hire from India?+
No — Remvix operates as the Employer of Record (EOR), meaning we are the legal employer in India. You direct the work and pay one monthly invoice; we handle Indian employment compliance entirely.
How much does setting up an Indian entity cost if I want to hire directly?+
Typically $50,000–$100,000 in setup and ongoing compliance infrastructure, with a 12–18 month timeline before you can make your first hire — a cost and timeline most companies don't anticipate.
Is hiring a contractor cheaper than a dedicated employee?+
Often appears cheaper on a per-hour basis, but total cost-of-ownership can be higher once attrition, ramp-up time, and inconsistent availability are factored in — particularly for engagements longer than 6 months.
What's the biggest hidden cost in offshore hiring?+
Attrition. Replacing a senior hire due to poor retention typically costs more in lost productivity and re-hiring than the incremental cost of competitive compensation and retention infrastructure.
How does city choice affect cost?+
Bengaluru and Mumbai carry a 15–30% premium over Tier 2 cities for equivalent talent. Remote-first hiring can access more cost-efficient locations without sacrificing quality for many roles.
Are there setup fees with Remvix?+
No setup fees. You pay one predictable monthly invoice per hire, covering salary, compliance, benefits, equipment, and management.
Can I get a cost estimate for a full team rather than one hire?+
Yes — see our team-building cost guides for development, AI, and support team composition and cost structuring, or book a call for a custom team quote.
Your next great hire is in India. We'll find them.
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