2026 Engineering Cost Benchmark: Tel Aviv vs Offshore
What does the same engineer cost in Tel Aviv and in 10 other locations? This page sets all-in monthly cost side by side for three seniority levels, with the method and what is included, using the Commit Offshore cost calculator rates.
Commit Offshore internal estimates, October 2026: not a salary survey
The short version
A senior engineer (5 to 8 years) costs $14,500 a month all-in in Tel Aviv. In the same estimates, the same seniority costs $5,200 to $8,750 a month in seven offshore locations, which is 40% to 64% less. In London, New York and Toronto the gap to Tel Aviv is 3% to 21%. The full table for all 11 locations and three seniority levels is below.
| Location | Junior / Mid 2 to 5 yrs | Senior 5 to 8 yrs | Lead / Architect 8+ yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tel Aviv, Israel (benchmark) | $10,000 | $14,500 | $19,500 |
| Kyiv, Ukraine | $4,650 | $7,000 | $10,000 |
| Warsaw, Poland | $6,100 | $8,750 | $12,000 |
| Bucharest, Romania | $5,100 | $7,600 | $10,700 |
| Tbilisi, Georgia | $4,000 | $6,100 | $8,750 |
| Manila, Philippines | $3,500 | $5,500 | $8,250 |
| Accra, Ghana | $3,250 | $5,200 | $8,000 |
| Lagos, Nigeria | $3,450 | $5,400 | $8,200 |
| London, UK | $8,500 | $12,750 | $17,750 |
| New York, US | $9,250 | $14,000 | $19,750 |
| Toronto, Canada | $7,650 | $11,400 | $15,900 |
| Location | Per year | vs Tel Aviv |
|---|---|---|
| Tel Aviv, Israel | $174,000 | Benchmark |
| Kyiv, Ukraine | $84,000 | −52% |
| Warsaw, Poland | $105,000 | −40% |
| Bucharest, Romania | $91,200 | −48% |
| Tbilisi, Georgia | $73,200 | −58% |
| Manila, Philippines | $66,000 | −62% |
| Accra, Ghana | $62,400 | −64% |
| Lagos, Nigeria | $64,800 | −63% |
| London, UK | $153,000 | −12% |
| New York, US | $168,000 | −3% |
| Toronto, Canada | $136,800 | −21% |
Annual cost is the Senior monthly figure multiplied by 12. "vs Tel Aviv" compares the Senior monthly figure with Tel Aviv ($14,500), rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source: Commit Offshore cost calculator rates, October 2026. Exact quote on request.
Download the table as CSV (11 locations, three seniority levels, same figures as above).
How these numbers are built
These are Commit Offshore internal estimates for October 2026, taken from the rates in our cost calculator. They are not a salary survey, and they do not describe what any one engineer is paid. Tel Aviv is shown as the benchmark for a local hire so that you can compare like with like. Salary assumptions combine, depending on the location, our own payroll data for engineers we currently employ, local salary surveys and recruiter market quotes.
For the offshore locations, all-in includes: salary, local employer costs, benefits, equipment, Employer of Record (EOR) and the Commit Offshore fee. The Tel Aviv row is our estimate of what it costs to employ the same engineer yourself in Israel, so it carries no EOR or Commit Offshore fee. All figures exclude recruiter fees and hiring time. If you hire locally through an agency or a long search, add those costs to the Tel Aviv side yourself.
Seniority levels: Junior / Mid means 2 to 5 years of experience, Senior means 5 to 8 years, and Lead / Architect means 8 or more years. Your exact quote depends on stack, location and contract length.
Working hours: time difference from Israel
| Location | Time vs Israel (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Tel Aviv, Israel | Same |
| Kyiv, Ukraine | Same or similar |
| Warsaw, Poland | About 1 hour behind |
| Bucharest, Romania | Same or similar |
| Tbilisi, Georgia | About 1 to 2 hours ahead |
| Manila, Philippines | About 5 to 6 hours ahead |
| Accra, Ghana | About 2 to 3 hours behind |
| Lagos, Nigeria | About 1 to 2 hours behind |
| London, UK | About 2 hours behind |
| New York, US | About 7 hours behind |
| Toronto, Canada | About 7 hours behind |
Israel and most European countries change their clocks on different dates, so the gap can shift by an hour for a few weeks a year. Check the exact offset for your start date.
Keep a copy
- The same tables as a 4-page PDF you can forward to your CFO or board.
- Includes the definitions above, so the numbers travel with their caveats.
Thank you. Your benchmark is ready.
Download the PDF (4 pages, about 54 KB). Lee may also follow up about it.
Download the PDF ↓Want these numbers for your own team?
Tell Lee the role, seniority and location you are comparing. You get an exact quote on request.