New research conducted by invoicing software company Bookipi has unveiled insights into the global landscape of freelance pricing. The study, which utilised data from the freelancing platform Upwork, analysed the rates charged by freelancers across 40 different countries for various services such as logo design, video editing, and data entry.
Australia emerged as the country with the highest average rate for freelancers, commanding $594.56 per job on average. This makes Australia the most expensive destination for hiring freelancers, particularly in fields like creative writing, web programming, and mobile app development. India followed closely as the second most expensive country, with freelancers charging an average of $501 per job. Notably, India stood out as the priciest option for data entry services, with an average rate of $75.92 per job.
Morocco secured the third spot in the ranking, with freelancers demanding an average of $402.03 per job. The study also identified Saudi Arabia and Turkey as costly freelance destinations, with average rates of $401.64 and $393.88 per job.
The top 20 countries with the most expensive freelancers
Colombia emerged as the most budget-friendly option, with an average rate of $72.13 per job—87% lower than Australia’s. Brazil and Argentina ranked as the second and third most affordable, with average rates of $79.81 and $80.84 per job.
Tim Lee, CEO and founder of Bookipi, emphasised the cultural diversity within their team and how it inspired the investigation into global freelance pricing. Lee noted that countries with strong economies and high living standards tend to host the most expensive freelancers, as evidenced by Australia’s top ranking. However, he highlighted that specialised skills and expertise can also influence pricing, as seen in India’s case.
Lee hopes the ranking empowers freelancers globally to recognise their value and confidently set fair prices.
