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 highlighted Saudi Arabia and Turkey as other pricey destinations for freelance services, with average rates of $401.64 and $393.88 per job, respectively.
The top 20 countries with the most expensive freelancers
Conversely, Colombia emerged as the most budget-friendly option, boasting an average rate of $72.13 per job – a stark 87% lower than Australia’s average. Brazil and Argentina followed as the second and third least expensive countries, with average rates of $79.81 and $80.84 per freelancing job, respectively.
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 expressed hope that the ranking would empower freelance workers worldwide to recognise their value and confidently set fair prices for their services.
