EOR pricing in Asia runs $400 to $700+ per employee per month. But the sticker price is a small fraction of what you’ll actually pay — setup fees, FX margins, benefits markups, and platform fees all add up. Here’s exactly what you’re paying for.
Standard EOR Pricing in Asia
| Provider | Monthly Fee | Contractor Fee | Setup Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiplier | From $400 | $40/contractor | None |
| Rippling | From $500 | Included | None |
| Oyster HR | From $499 | $29/contractor | None |
| Deel | From $599 | $49/contractor | None |
| Remote | From $599 | Free | None |
| Papaya Global | From $650 | Custom | Custom |
What’s Included in the Monthly Fee
A standard EOR monthly fee covers:
- Local employment contract (compliant with country law)
- Monthly payroll processing
- Statutory contributions (social security, provident fund, health insurance, etc.)
- Tax withholding and remittance
- Compliance monitoring and statutory updates
- Employee onboarding and offboarding
- Basic employee support (payslips, tax documents)
What’s Often Not Included
Benefits administration: Health insurance, dental, and other benefits are almost always charged on top. In Singapore, group health insurance typically adds SGD 150–400/month per employee — not trivial.
13th month pay (Philippines, some other markets): Your EOR should handle this, but confirm whether it’s pre-provisioned monthly or billed as a lump sum in December. A lump-sum surprise in December is a cash-flow problem.
Equity / ESOP administration: Managing share options for overseas employees is typically an add-on. Oyster includes it; most others charge extra.
Work permit applications: One-time fees of $500–$2,000 for work permit applications and renewals. This is separate from the monthly fee.
Termination fees: Some providers charge an administration fee for offboarding employees, particularly in Japan and Indonesia where statutory termination procedures are complex.
FX spread: Providers billing in USD while paying in local currency apply a FX spread — typically 0.5–2%. On a $5,000/month salary, that’s $50–$100/month per employee. Ask for the exact spread for your target country before signing.
EOR Cost vs Entity Setup
| Country | Entity Setup Cost | Annual Entity Maintenance | EOR Break-Even (headcount) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $3,000–$8,000 | $5,000–$15,000/yr | 8–12 employees |
| India | $15,000–$30,000 | $20,000–$40,000/yr | 12–20 employees |
| Philippines | $10,000–$20,000 | $15,000–$30,000/yr | 10–15 employees |
| Indonesia | $20,000–$50,000 | $25,000–$50,000/yr | 15–25 employees |
| Japan | $30,000–$60,000 | $40,000–$80,000/yr | 20–35 employees |
EOR is typically the better choice financially until you reach 10–20 employees in a single country. Beyond that, run the actual numbers for your salary levels and your EOR’s specific pricing.
Calculating Your Total EOR Cost
Annual cost = (Monthly fee × 12) + Benefits + Visa/permit fees + Estimated FX spreadExample — hiring 3 engineers in India with Deel:
- Monthly fee: $599 × 3 × 12 = $21,564
- Benefits (group health): $150 × 3 × 12 = $5,400
- No visa required (Indian nationals)
- FX spread: ~1% of INR payroll
- Estimated total: ~$27,000–$28,000/year
Four Ways to Reduce EOR Costs
Negotiate at volume. Most providers will discount at 10+ employees. Ask for volume pricing before signing — most will move on the monthly fee at that scale.
Audit what’s bundled vs. billed separately. Remote includes more in the base price than Deel. Know what you’re actually getting before you compare sticker prices.
Start contractors on the free tier. Remote offers free contractor management. If you’re testing a new hire before committing to full employment, start them as a contractor and convert once you’re confident.
Compare benefits costs independently. EOR providers vary significantly in how they price benefits. Get a direct quote from a local broker (AIA, Prudential, Great Eastern in Singapore) and compare it to what the EOR is charging. The spread is often 10–20%.
