Know the real cost of hiring abroad before you sign.
Country-by-country employment costs, Employer of Record pricing and decision frameworks, built from official government sources and providers' own documentation.
Portugal · cost snapshot
EstimateGross salary
€42,000
- Social security (TSU), employer share
- +€9,975
- Labour Compensation Guarantee Fund (FGCT)
- +€32
- Workplace accident insurance
- +€420
- Occupational health & safety services
- +€150
- EOR fee (12 months)
- +€6,240
Total annual cost
€58,817
1.40× salary
What you get
Research you can check, not opinions you have to trust
EOR decisions involve tens of thousands per hire. Every figure here links to the source it came from, so you can verify it before using it.
True cost of employment
Social security, mandatory insurance, extra salary payments and EOR fees, itemised at real salary levels for each country.
Provider pricing transparency
Published starting prices, pricing models and what is excluded. Taken from provider documentation, never from paid placements.
Decision frameworks
EOR vs local entity, EOR vs contractor, and break-even maths you can run with your own quotes.
Country guides
Start with the country you're hiring in
Employer of Record in Portugal
How to hire a full-time employee in Portugal without opening a local company: total cost, the rules an EOR must follow, and how providers compare on published pricing.
- Employer social security23.75% of gross pay
- Employee social security11% of gross pay
- Salary payments per year14 (12 + holiday + Christmas)
Employer of Record in Spain
How to hire a full-time employee in Spain without opening a local company: the true cost including Spain's capped social security, the labour rules that matter, and how EOR providers compare.
- Employer social security≈32% of gross (capped)
- Contribution ceiling (2026)€5,101.20 / month
- Salary payments per yearUsually 14 (12 + 2 extra)
Employer of Record in Germany
How to hire in Germany without a GmbH: employer costs under Germany's contribution ceilings, the 18-month rule that limits EOR arrangements, and how providers compare.
- Employer social security≈21–23% of gross (capped)
- Pension contribution ceiling€101,400 / year
- Salary payments per year12 (13th month common)
Employer of Record in the Netherlands
How to hire in the Netherlands without a Dutch BV: employer premiums and the 8% holiday allowance, the two-year sick-pay obligation, the coming Wtta licensing regime, and how providers compare.
- Employer premiums≈17–20% of gross (capped)
- Holiday allowance8% of gross salary
- Maximum premium wage (2026)€79,409 / year
In research: Poland Ireland France United Kingdom Mexico Brazil
Decision tools
Work out the right hiring model
Calculator
Salary cost estimator
Enter a salary and EOR fee to see total annual employer cost, with every contribution itemised.
OpenDecision guide
EOR vs Local Entity
An EOR costs a flat fee per employee. A local entity costs a lot to set up and run but little per extra hire. This guide shows how to find the crossover for your company.
OpenDecision guide
EOR vs Contractors
Contractors are cheaper and faster to engage, but only when the relationship really is independent. Here is how to tell, and what misclassification can cost.
OpenHow we work
Built for scrutiny
We don't test providers or claim hands-on experience. We compile, compare and cite public information, and we tell you exactly where it came from.
- Employment rules and rates come from government and statutory sources.
- Provider data comes only from public pricing pages and documentation.
- Every page shows when it was last updated.
- Affiliate relationships never affect data, inclusion or order.
- Official sources cited
- 36
- Providers tracked
- 8
- Paid placements
- 0
- Last content update
- 7 October 2026
Hiring your first employee abroad?
Start with the true cost, then shortlist providers on published pricing and fit, and ask each one for an itemised quote.