The verdict in three sentences
On an 1,800 man-day SaaS, comparing day rates is not enough: the hidden offshore premium (coordination, rework, time zones) adds 20 to 35 % to the bill. French-speaking nearshore teams (Dakar, Abidjan, Tunis) charge 300 to 450 EUR a day with 0 to 1 hour of offset from London and strong English and French. India stays cheapest on paper, but the real gap narrows to 15 to 25 % once your CTO's internal time is counted.
Day rates and real cost by region in 2026
A CTO at a UK or US scale-up preparing version 2 of the product compares several options. Here are 2026 ranges for senior teams (full-stack developers, QA, tech lead), order of magnitude excluding travel.
| Region | Average day rate 2026 | Offset vs London | Working language | Estimated hidden premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK agency | 650 to 950 GBP (760 to 1,110 EUR) | 0 h | English | 3 to 5 % |
| US agency | 1,000 to 1,500 USD | 5 to 8 h | English | 3 to 5 % |
| France agency | 650 to 900 EUR | 1 h | French, English | 4 to 6 % |
| French-speaking Africa nearshore | 300 to 450 EUR | 0 to 1 h | French, English | 6 to 10 % |
| Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania) | 400 to 600 EUR | 1 to 2 h | English | 8 to 12 % |
| India (offshore) | 180 to 300 EUR | 4.5 to 5.5 h | English | 20 to 35 % |
The hidden premium covers three items: client-side coordination time (off-hours meetings, more detailed specs), rework caused by functional misunderstandings, and approval delays due to time zones. It is measured in CTO or product owner days, rarely invoiced but very real.
Total cost over 18 months for 1,800 man-days
Take a B2B SaaS of 1,800 man-days delivered over 18 months, with an in-house CTO costing 850 EUR a day loaded. The table adds the internal steering time each option needs.
| Option | Vendor invoice | Hidden premium | Internal steering (CTO days) | Estimated total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France agency at 775 EUR | 1,395,000 EUR | 55,000 EUR | 90 d, 76,500 EUR | 1,526,500 EUR |
| French-speaking nearshore at 380 EUR | 684,000 EUR | 55,000 EUR | 120 d, 102,000 EUR | 841,000 EUR |
| Eastern Europe at 500 EUR | 900,000 EUR | 90,000 EUR | 140 d, 119,000 EUR | 1,109,000 EUR |
| India at 240 EUR | 432,000 EUR | 120,000 EUR | 220 d, 187,000 EUR | 739,000 EUR |
| India, unfavourable scenario | 432,000 EUR | 150,000 EUR | 260 d, 221,000 EUR | 803,000 EUR |
The nearshore to offshore gap falls to 5 to 14 % of total cost, while day rates suggested 37 %. For a US buyer, the same scope with a domestic agency at 1,200 USD a day exceeds 2.2 million USD. Calendar risk must be priced too: one month of launch delay at 80,000 EUR of target MRR costs far more than the day-rate difference.
The criteria that actually decide
Beyond price, four criteria matter. Intellectual property: assignment of rights, Git repository in the client's name, environment access from day one. Team stability: a 25 % annual attrition rate, common in large offshore centres, means retraining developers mid-project. Data protection: a vendor in India requires standard contractual clauses and a transfer assessment under UK GDPR, while Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire have data protection laws close to GDPR. Finally, product capability: a team that challenges specifications reduces the volume of rework.
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James, CTO of an HR SaaS scale-up in Manchester, must ship an 1,800 man-day payroll module in 18 months. The Indian quote shows 432,000 EUR, the Dakar nearshore quote 684,000 EUR. On his previous offshore project, James measured 4 hours a week of late meetings and 22 % reopened tickets. Applying those ratios, he estimates the Indian total at 760,000 EUR against 841,000 EUR nearshore, with a likely 2-month delay offshore. At 60,000 EUR of expected MRR per launch month, those 2 months weigh 120,000 EUR: nearshore becomes the most profitable option by about 40,000 EUR.
FAQ
Does French-speaking African nearshore have senior talent?
Yes, Dakar, Abidjan and Tunis have developers with 5 to 10 years on React, Node.js, Python and AWS or GCP. A senior tech lead there bills around 450 to 550 EUR a day in 2026.
How can the offshore hidden premium be reduced?
Require a dedicated vendor-side product owner, at least 3 hours of daily overlap and specs with acceptance criteria. These measures bring the premium down to 15 to 20 %.
Can both models be combined?
Yes, a hybrid with architecture and product nearshore, then testing and maintenance offshore, works well above 3,000 man-days. It needs a single tech lead accountable for both teams.
Fixed price or time and materials?
Fixed price suits a frozen scope under 300 days. For an 1,800-day SaaS, time and materials with a capacity commitment, monthly reviews and a quarterly cap is healthier.
How fast can a nearshore team start?
Allow 3 to 6 weeks to assemble a team of 5 to 8 people, against 6 to 10 weeks for equivalent profiles in London or Paris.
Let's scope your project. Send us your backlog or man-day estimate: we price a French-speaking nearshore team with an indicative budget and a ramp-up plan within 4 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
