App to hire CAD designers in Mexico vs Colombia

Finding the right talent for your design projects has never been easier, thanks to the growing availability of apps to hire CAD designers. These platforms connect companies with qualified professionals who can bring their ideas to life, whether for architectural drawings, product designs, or engineering projects. But with so many options, how do you choose the best talent?

If you're considering Mexico or Colombia for your next CAD hire, this guide will help you weigh the pros and cons of each country, from cost to communication to scheduling. Let's take a look at how to get the most out of hiring a CAD designer and ensure the success of your project.

Find out more about the top 5 benefits of hiring outsourcing professionals in Latin America.

App to hire CAD designers in Mexico vs Colombia

The following radar chart illustrates a comparison between Mexico and Colombia on five key factors related to hiring CAD designers. These factors have been evaluated and rated from 1 to 5 to reflect their relative performance in each area. The visualization allows you to identify the strengths and opportunities of both countries when considering which one best suits your project needs.

Below are the five factors evaluated when hiring CAD designers: time zone alignment, hiring costs, talent availability, language and communication skills, and technology infrastructure. Each of these plays a key role in the decision between Mexico and Colombia for hiring CAD designers.

Time zone alignment

Time zone alignment is critical for real-time collaboration. When using an app to hire CAD designers, Mexico and Colombia have time zone differences with major U.S. cities that can impact communication and project coordination.

Mexico: Mexico City operates in the Central Time Zone (UTC-06:00). During Standard Time, it is 12:00 p.m. in Mexico City, 10:00 a.m. in San Francisco (UTC-08:00), and 1:00 p.m. in Miami (UTC-05:00).

Colombia: Bogota is in the UTC-05:00 time zone, the same as Miami. Therefore, when it is 12:00 p.m. in Bogota, it is also 12:00 p.m. in Miami. With respect to San Francisco (UTC-08:00), there is a three-hour difference, so when it is 12:00 p.m. in Bogota, it is 9:00 a.m. in San Francisco.

Both countries make it easier to schedule meetings and ensure timely communication, but Mexico may be more advantageous for companies in the central and western United States.

Learn more about nearshore staffing: Scale your team with agility.

Time zone alignment — Source: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/map

Costs of Hiring CAD Designers

One of the key factors when using an app to hire CAD designers is cost.

Mexico: The average monthly salary for a senior CAD designer in Mexico is approximately $2,000 to $2,500, although salaries can vary.

Colombia: In Colombia, the average monthly salary for a senior CAD designer is approximately $1,200 to $1,500 USD, taking into account exchange rates and industry standards.

Both countries are more affordable than hiring in the U.S., but Colombia tends to be slightly cheaper overall.

Comparing talent pools

Both Mexico and Colombia have a growing pool of highly skilled CAD design engineers.

Mexico: Known for its strong engineering education system, Mexico has a solid talent pool of CAD professionals. Each year, Mexico graduates more than 130,000 engineering professionals. With a talent pool of more than 700,000 developers, Mexico has become a highly competitive market for CAD designers.

Colombia: Colombia's CAD designers often excel in architecture and civil engineering projects, reflecting the country's emphasis on urban development and infrastructure. There are an estimated 62,000 professionals in Colombia.

Depending on the type of project, one country may offer more specialized talent than the other.

Find out more about the tech talent pool in Latin America.

Language Skills and Communication

Effective communication is vital when hiring CAD designers using an app, especially on international projects.

Mexico: English proficiency among CAD professionals in Mexico can vary, but professionals in major business centers such as Monterrey and Mexico City tend to have better English skills. However, Mexico ranks 87th in the world for English proficiency and 20th out of 21 countries in Latin America.

Colombia: In Colombia, many CAD designers also speak English, but fluency levels can vary depending on the region and professional experience. Colombia ranks above Mexico at 74th globally and 17th out of 21 countries in Latin America, showing slightly better overall proficiency..

For projects requiring detailed discussions in English, Colombia may have a slight advantage in overall English proficiency, although individual qualifications should always be evaluated.

Technology Infrastructure

Understanding the local market can make or break a project.

Mexico: Mexico has a large and highly educated workforce, ideal for real-time collaboration due to its time zone alignment with the United States. Guadalajara stands out as a premier technology hub, attracting a significant portion of the region's technical innovation and venture capital.

Colombia: Colombia is an excellent option for urban development and civil engineering in Latin America. The country has managed to position itself on the global entrepreneurship scene, with eleven of its cities in the top 1,000 most promising in this area. Among them, Pereira, Manizales and Bucaramanga made their first appearances on the list, joining other consolidated cities such as Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla and Bogota.

Both countries offer CAD designers familiar with international standards, but their expertise is often tailored to local market needs.

Teilur Talent for recruitment with transparent pricing

Teilur Talent is redefining the international recruitment landscape with a commitment to transparency. Teilur Talent operates with fully disclosed margins that never exceed 20% of candidate payments, ensuring fairness and building trust, allowing companies to focus on their projects knowing exactly where their investment is going.

In addition to fair pricing, Teilur Talent simplifies the complexities of international recruitment by managing payroll, contract compliance and employee benefits on your behalf. With a seamless payment process via ACH, companies can delegate administrative responsibilities with confidence. Teilur Talent provides an efficient and stress-free recruitment experience designed to meet the demands of the global workforce.

Learn more about Teilur Talent's pricing disruption with transparency in recruiting.

Our thoughts on the pricing structure of Toptal

While it's not possible for us to find details about how much of what a client pays ultimately goes to a candidate, we believe clients looking for transparent and straightforward pricing may want to look at other alternatives.

Our opinion is that if they are charging a client more than $12,000 monthly for a developer, they should at the very least be giving $9,600 to the candidate, but it's likely that it's even less than that.

‍
What Hiring Managers Should Ask Before Choosing a Talent Partner

Before partnering with any talent provider — whether Toptal, Teilur, or others — hiring managers should consider asking the following key questions:

What percentage of the fee actually goes to the talent?
Are replacement or satisfaction guarantees included in the contract?
How are regional salary benchmarks determined?
Is there full transparency in how rates are broken down?
What is the long-term cost difference between hiring directly and through a platform?
‍

These questions can help businesses make informed decisions and ensure that pricing aligns with both market realities and ethical compensation practices.

‍

Toptal vs Teilur Talent Comparison

Concept	Toptal	Teilur Talent
Transparency	Pricing details are not publicly disclosed. Clients see a blended hourly rate that includes both Toptal’s fee and the freelancer’s pay.	Fully transparent rate breakdown. Clients see exactly how much goes to the talent and how much is retained by Teilur as a service fee.
Commission / Markup	Estimated at up to ~50% based on third-party reports and client testimonials. The exact markup percentage is not officially stated.	Capped at 20%, ensuring that at least 80% of the client’s payment goes directly to the developer.
Monthly Subscription Fee	$79/month, non-optional, grants access to Toptal’s vetted talent network. (Source: Toptal website).	No subscription fees. Clients only pay when hiring or engaging talent.
Initial Deposit	$500 refundable deposit required to begin a talent search.	No upfront deposit required to start the matching process.
Trial Policy	Two-week no-risk trial. Clients are billed only if satisfied with the match.	N/A (direct matching) – Teilur focuses on pre-vetted, long-term placements with transparent trial terms discussed case by case.
Pricing Range (Developers)	$60–$200+ per hour depending on experience and project complexity (includes platform markup).	$6,000–$7,000/month for senior LATAM developers, equivalent to ~$35–$45/hour — transparent, with no hidden markups.
Payment Structure	Bi-monthly invoices; payment terms like Net 10. Includes blended rate.	Monthly invoices with clear cost breakdown (talent pay + Teilur fee).

Conclusion

Choosing between Mexico and Colombia when using an app to hire CAD designers depends on your specific needs, including budget, time zone alignment, and project scope. Mexico offers strong connections to North American industries, reliable time zone overlap for Western clients, and a solid pool of experienced designers. Colombia, on the other hand, is more cost-effective, aligns perfectly with Eastern time zones, and provides a growing talent base with slightly higher English proficiency. To make the best decision, evaluate your project’s priorities and consider how each country’s strengths align with your goals.

To help you make the best decision, use the calculator below to estimate your costs and potential savings. For more details and personalized advice, please contact us.

Toptal vs Teilur Talent Comparison

Concept	Toptal	Teilur Talent
Business Model	Global freelance marketplace connecting clients with vetted professionals in software, design, and finance.	LATAM-focused recruitment company connecting businesses with full-time remote developers and tech professionals.
Selectivity Claim	Claims to accept less than 3% of applicants, based on its internal screening process.	Works only with pre-vetted, bilingual professionals in LATAM, selected for technical and communication skills.
Recruitment Process	Multi-stage: timed skills test → English interview → real-world project → live screen evaluation.	Direct evaluation of experience, portfolio, and communication ability. Matches candidates by vertical (QA, Software, Cybersecurity, Data & BI) and company culture.
Trial or Test Period	Offers a two-week trial, refundable if client isn’t satisfied.	No fixed trial period — focuses on long-term retention and transparent onboarding.
Contract Type	Typically weekly contracts (20 or 40 hours) with limited flexibility for short-term projects.	Flexible monthly agreements, allowing scalability per project scope and company needs.
Transparency	Pricing details not publicly disclosed. Clients see a blended hourly rate including Toptal’s markup.	Fully transparent pricing model. Clients see how much goes to the developer and how much is Teilur’s service fee.
Commission / Markup	Estimated around 40–50%, based on user reports and external reviews.	Capped at 20%. At least 80% of client payment goes directly to the developer.
Initial Deposit	Requires a $500 refundable deposit to start the search process.	No upfront deposit required.
Client Support	Account managers available during hiring and engagement. Support quality varies by project.	Personalized support from start to finish, ensuring alignment for both client and talent.
Developer Pay Transparency	Developers are contractually restricted from disclosing their actual pay rates.	Developers know their full compensation and see transparent rate breakdowns.
Geographic Focus	Global, with talent from Eastern Europe, Asia, and LATAM.	Exclusive to Latin America, optimizing time-zone alignment and cultural fit.
Turnover Rate	Not publicly disclosed.	Reported below 15%, reflecting strong retention and satisfaction.
Best For	Large enterprises or teams needing globally distributed freelance specialists.	U.S. and international companies seeking transparent, long-term partnerships with vetted LATAM developers.

We are incredibly pleased with Teilur Talent as our talent partner. Their expertise has allowed us to recruit qualified candidates from abroad, making the hiring process smooth and efficient - highly recommended for any company looking to expand their talent pool!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Carolina Penuela

Justo

"Great for recruiting"
What do you like best about Teilur Talent? Recruiting tool for connecting talent in South and Central America to job postings in the USA.
What problems is Teilur solving and how is that benefiting you? Vetted candidates that we are able to use in our agency.

Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Teilur Talent helped me land a high-paying role, and everything has been great so far. If you ever have the opportunity to work with them, do so. I highly recommend it!

Eddie Santiago

Review collected by and hosted on Trustpilot.

I have heard of Teilur Talent, and I think it is a very innovative and socially responsible company. I also think it has a very positive culture and cares about its employees and customers.

Daniel Oviedo

My experience with Teilur Talent has been overwhelmingly positive from the start. Transparency and clear communication were standout features throughout my journey with the company. Highly recommended!

App to hire CAD designers in Mexico vs Colombia