What a Nearshore Seat in Mexico Really Costs
A nearshore seat should be budgeted as a single monthly per-seat cost that already includes salary, statutory benefits, employment administration, and provider fee. Comparing that number against the fully loaded cost of a domestic hire, rather than against base salary, is the only accurate comparison.
Compare fully loaded costs, not salaries
The common budgeting mistake is comparing a nearshore per-seat rate against a US base salary. A domestic hire also carries payroll taxes, benefits, equipment, software seats, recruiting cost, and management overhead. Put both on a fully loaded basis before drawing any conclusion.
What sits inside a per-seat rate
- Gross salary for the role and seniority level
- Statutory employment cost, including social security and mandated benefits
- Payroll processing and compliance administration
- Sourcing, vetting, and replacement cover
- Account management and ongoing support
How to model it
| Line | Domestic hire | Nearshore seat |
|---|---|---|
| Base compensation | Market salary | Included in per-seat rate |
| Employer taxes and benefits | Added on top | Included in per-seat rate |
| Recruiting cost | Fee or internal time | Included |
| Payroll and compliance admin | Internal | Handled by Cruithunt |
| Budgeting | Several variable lines | One predictable monthly figure |
Where the savings come from
Savings come from the difference in local labor markets, not from lowering the standard of the hire. The professionals placed are full-time, formally employed, and long-term. Firms working with Cruithunt typically see a materially lower cost per seat than the equivalent US hire, with the exact difference depending on role, seniority, and location.
Questions that make provider quotes comparable
- Is the rate all-inclusive, or are statutory costs billed separately?
- Is the person employed, or engaged as a contractor?
- What happens if a seat needs replacing in the first quarter?
- Is there a trial period before a longer commitment?
Ask every provider the same four questions and the quotes become directly comparable.
Frequently asked questions
How much can we save with a nearshore seat?
It depends on role and seniority. The right comparison is the fully loaded cost of a domestic hire against an all-inclusive per-seat rate, not base salary against base salary.
Are there hidden costs?
There should not be. Cruithunt quotes a single per-seat figure that includes salary, statutory employment cost, and administration.
Can we start small?
Yes. Most firms begin with a small number of seats and a defined trial period before scaling.
Considering a nearshore team in Mexico?
We can walk through role profiles, timelines, and the employment structure on a short call.
Schedule a Consultation