Question: how much should you actually budget for hiring a React Native developer? Do the costs remain the same everywhere?
The short answer as always: it depends. Developer rates vary based on experience, location, project complexity, and hiring model. A junior freelancer in Eastern Europe won’t charge the same as a senior engineer in Silicon Valley. And if you need someone to start immediately or handle advanced features, expect to pay a premium.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key factors affecting cost, typical hourly rates, and the best ways to hire top React Native developers without overspending.
The cost of hiring a React Native developer depends on several factors, including:
Of these, the most common pricing factor is by region. Let’s take a look at the various hourly rates in major geographic locations around the world.
The internet has made it possible to hire developers around the globe. And the rates for most regions vary, so you need to be sure that where you’re hiring from is within your budget.
Below is a breakdown of average hourly rates based on different locations and the experience level of the developers.
React Native developers in the USA earn around $91,949 on average, according to Salary.com. ZipRecruiter takes that figure, quoting the average pay to be $129,348 annually.
We also found a subreddit that provides firsthand information on how much actual React Native engineers earned as their current salary. The common response among US-based devs was around $90,000 a year.
Below is the breakdown of hourly rates by dev experience:
Canada offers slightly lower rates than the USA. ZipRecruiter, for example, pegs the average hourly rates of Ontario React Native developers at $133,000 ($64/hour). Here’s the breakdown of rates by engineer experience:
A junior React Native engineer in Canada takes home around $72K/year, which equates to roughly $40/hour. Mid-level developers average about $85K–$100K/year (around $58–$80/hour), while senior full-time roles commonly range between $60-$92/hour.
Canadian freelancers have similar costs, with hourly rates averaging between $60 and $80 per hour on platforms like Turing and Toptal.
The three biggest IT markets in Latin America, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, are unsurprisingly a hot cake for USA companies. Many startups prefer to hire from this region because of the time-zone alignment. Secondly, those software engineers are generally more affordable compared to their US and Canadian counterparts due to the lower cost of living. In a country like Brazil, React Native developers take home about $30,000 a year, while experienced developers average $65,000 per year.
Here’s how much React Native developers cost in Latin America:
Eastern Europe has emerged as the cost-friendly hub for hiring IT talent. Countries like Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, and Croatia are home to affordable software engineers skilled in various technologies, including React Native. What also makes hiring React Native devs from these countries attractive is their ability to speak decent English, removing the language barrier to dealing with US startups.
Hourly rates for developers in this region are as follows:
Western Europe is a major hotspot for tech talent, with countries like Germany, France, and the UK leading the way. Netherlands, Poland, and Spain are not far behind. These countries have lots of developers and some of the highest pay in the region. But because living costs in these countries are high, hiring React Native developers there can be expensive.
In places like the UK and France, tech talent often charges more per hour than in the US. So, if you’re planning to hire from these areas, expect it to cost more. Here’s a quick glance at what React Native developers from Western Europe might cost you.
Asia has long been a tech hub, hosting some of the most skilled tech talent in the world. With their large populations, it’s unsurprising that two countries in this region, China and India, have the highest number of developers globally.
Companies hire from Asian regions for the cheap labor, but there’s a catch: the time zone mismatch. Picture this: You’re sipping your morning coffee, ready to start your day, while your dev in China is getting ready to go to bed. By the time Western companies are kicking off their workday, Chinese developers are often finishing theirs. This time zone difference can make coordination a real challenge.
Let’s look at the hourly rates of some of Asia’s top nations:
With over 7 million developers competing for tech jobs locally and internationally, it’s no surprise that Chinese developers generally command lower rates. React Native developers in China earn on average $71,000 yearly, according to Jobicy. You can hire a junior dev for around $42,000 - $58,000. Mid-level React Native engineers charge about $60,000 to $85,000. Senior developers with 6+ years of experience will set you back at least $87,000 ($42/hour) with salaries as high as $130,000 ($63/hour).
India has the second largest population of tech talent, with over 5 million software engineers. India devs are also a source of affordable labor, although most devs lack extensive experience to handle complex projects. Find typical hourly rates of Indian engineers below:
The tech scene in Africa is still developing, but it’s full of promise. Africa’s Big 4- Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa- are developing more experienced engineers through mentorship programs and boot camps. And thanks to the lower cost of living, developer rates tend to be very affordable. For those willing to invest the effort, there’s a lot of untapped talent to explore. But you’ll have to do a lot of digging to find the hidden gems.
Hiring React.js developers in Australia and New Zealand, much like the USA and Canada, can be quite expensive due to the high cost of living there. But you are guaranteed a similar level of quality you will find in the United States. Glassdoor reports the base salary of developers in Australia to be between $113,000 and $143,000 a year.
Before you can have a concrete idea of how much a React Native dev will cost you, there are a few things to consider first. These factors weigh heavily on which kind of expertise to settle for and even where to hire from.
As the saying goes, “size matters”, and it’s true with SaaS products. Huge projects require lots of experience and resources. I mean, if you’re building a simple MVP for a small user base—let’s say a private group of early adopters—you don’t necessarily need a senior developer. A mid-level React Native developer can handle the job, saving you money while still delivering a functional product.
On the flip side, if you’re working on a large SaaS platform with thousands of users, real-time features, and high scalability needs, you’ll need an experienced developer (or even a team) to get the job done right. More experience means higher rates, but it also means fewer costly mistakes down the line.
This is tied to the first factor above. Complex projects will need an exceptional skillset. The skills your project requires will also directly impact costs. Not all React Native developers are equal—some specialize in basic app development, while others have deep expertise in performance optimization, animations, and integration with complex backends.
If your app is relatively simple, you’ll need a developer who is proficient in:
These developers typically fall in the junior to mid-level range and charge between $30 – $45 per hour.
For more complex projects, you’ll need an engineer with expertise in:
A senior React Native developer with this skill set will command around $70 to $100 per hour (sometimes more for top-tier talent).
This is pretty straightforward. The longer your project runs, the more you’ll pay—but urgency can also drive up costs. If you need your product shipped asap, expect to pay a premium. Developers will charge more if they have to drop other commitments and prioritize your project. A freelancer might double their rates for rush jobs because it means working overtime or turning down other clients.
The employment model you choose—full-time, part-time, or freelance—also influences costs.
Full-Time Developer (Fixed monthly salary)
Hiring a full-time React Native developer means paying a steady salary, which is great if you need long-term support. This option is ideal for companies with ongoing projects and continuous feature updates.
Freelance Developer (Hourly or project-based)
Freelancers offer more flexibility, especially for short-term projects. You only pay for the work done, and rates vary widely based on expertise and region.
Hiring the right React Native developer isn’t just about price—it’s about getting the best balance of skill, speed, and reliability. A junior developer might seem cost-effective, but if they struggle with performance or scalability, you’ll pay more to fix their work. A senior developer moves faster and builds a more stable product, but the hiring process can be time-consuming and expensive.
The smartest way to save money without compromising on quality is to hire rigorously vetted developers who are ready to ship from day one. That’s where ReactSquad comes in.
Schedule a call today and let’s connect you with the React Native talent you need within 48 hours.
