The verdict in three sentences
For a 120 person-day SaaS MVP, a London team at EUR 650 to 1,000 a day (roughly GBP 550 to 850) costs EUR 78,000 to 120,000, while a Tunis team at EUR 220 to 380 costs EUR 26,000 to 46,000. Once coordination, stronger QA and travel are added, the real saving of nearshoring to Tunis sits around 45 to 55%, not 65%. That saving is only safe if you lock in three things before signing: a product owner on your side, the code in your repository from day one and a written IP assignment.
2026 day rates: London vs Tunis, role by role
Rate gaps vary by role. They are widest for mid-level developers and narrower for architects, who are scarce on both sides.
| Role | London day rate | Tunis day rate | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level full-stack developer (React, Node) | EUR 650 to 850 | EUR 220 to 320 | −60 to −65% |
| Senior developer or tech lead | EUR 850 to 1,100 | EUR 320 to 450 | −60% |
| UX/UI designer | EUR 600 to 800 | EUR 200 to 300 | −60 to −65% |
| QA tester | EUR 450 to 650 | EUR 180 to 260 | −60% |
| Cloud DevOps | EUR 800 to 1,000 | EUR 300 to 420 | −58 to −62% |
| Project manager or Scrum master | EUR 650 to 900 | EUR 280 to 380 | −57% |
These are 2026 estimates for established service companies, not isolated freelancers. In Tunis, a firm already working for European clients often bills at the top of the range, which is a good sign.
Total cost, beyond the day rate
The day rate says nothing about coordination cost. With nearshore, plan for a product owner on your side, two trips per phase and tighter acceptance testing.
| Line item for a 120 person-day MVP | London team | Tunis team |
|---|---|---|
| Development (120 person-days) | EUR 78,000 to 120,000 | EUR 26,400 to 45,600 |
| Strengthened QA | Included | 10 to 15 person-days, EUR 2,200 to 5,700 |
| Rework from unclear specs | 3 to 5% | 8 to 12% |
| Travel (2 London-Tunis trips) | EUR 0 | EUR 1,500 to 2,500 |
| Client product owner time | 15 to 20 days | 25 to 35 days |
| Time difference | None | 1 h ahead in winter, same time in summer |
| Estimated total cost | EUR 81,000 to 126,000 | EUR 32,000 to 60,000 |
The time zone is a non-issue: Tunisia is on UTC+1 all year, so one hour ahead of London in winter and on the same time in summer. Most Tunisian teams work comfortably in English as well as French.
Quality and code ownership: the four safeguards
Nearshore failures rarely come from skills. They come from vague contracts and an absent client.
| Risk | Safeguard | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Code inaccessible in a dispute | Git repository owned by your company from the first commit | EUR 0 |
| IP not assigned | Written IP assignment clause under English law, covering all deliverables | EUR 600 to 1,800 in legal fees |
| Personal data in Tunisia | UK IDTA or addendum to EU standard clauses, as Tunisia has no UK adequacy decision | Included in the contract |
| Uneven quality | Independent lead code review 1 day per sprint | EUR 3,000 to 5,000 over the MVP |
Mini case study
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James, founder of a proptech start-up in Shoreditch, London, had a 120 person-day MVP priced. Average London quote: EUR 800 × 120 = EUR 96,000. Average Tunis quote: EUR 300 × 120 = EUR 36,000.
He adds 12 days of QA (EUR 3,600), 10% rework (EUR 3,600), two trips (EUR 2,000) and an independent code review (EUR 4,000) to the Tunis quote: EUR 49,200. Real saving: EUR 46,800, or 49%. He keeps half of it as a reserve for the three months after launch, when the first customers ask for changes.
FAQ
Is nearshoring to Tunis right for a first MVP?
Yes, if you have a product owner available at least 1 day in 4. Without one, rework climbs to 20% and the rate advantage disappears.
How does invoicing from Tunisia work?
The Tunisian company invoices exported services in euros or pounds, generally outside the scope of UK VAT for the supplier (reverse charge to check with your accountant). Allow 1 to 2% in banking fees.
Can we mix London and Tunis?
That is often the best compromise: a London tech lead for 20 days on the project, the rest of the team in Tunis. The blended rate drops to around EUR 380 to 450 a day.
What are the alternatives to Tunis in Africa?
Casablanca and Dakar offer similar rates, EUR 200 to 400 for experienced profiles, with a time difference of 0 to 1 hour from London.
How long does a 120 person-day MVP take?
With a team of 3 to 4 people, allow 10 to 14 weeks, acceptance testing included.
Let's scope your project. Send us your functional scope and timeline: we will price your SaaS MVP with a nearshore team between EUR 30,000 and 60,000, with code in your repository and IP assignment from signature. 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.
