Hiring Ruby developers can be challenging, especially when balancing cost, time compatibility, and quality of talent. If you are considering nearshore options, Mexico City and Bogota are two of the best options in Latin America. Both cities have growing technology sectors, competitive rates and experienced developers, but each offers different advantages depending on your hiring priorities.
In this blog, we'll compare costs, time zones, talent availability, English proficiency, and more to help you decide which city is right for your business. Whether you need a cost-effective solution or a team that fits your work culture, this breakdown will give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
Learn more about the complete guide to hiring Latin American developers.
Why Hire Ruby Developers?
Hiring Ruby developers can give your company a competitive edge, especially if you're working on scalable, high-performance web applications. Ruby, especially with Ruby on Rails, allows for rapid development, clean code, and easy maintenance, making it a popular choice for startups and enterprises. Companies like Airbnb, Shopify, and GitHub have used Ruby to build robust, user-friendly platforms that handle high traffic without compromising performance.
Another key benefit of hiring Ruby developers is the flexibility and efficiency they bring to a project. Ruby's simplicity allows developers to write less code while achieving more functionality, accelerating development cycles and reducing costs. In addition, Ruby's strong open source community ensures developers have access to pre-built solutions, security updates, and best practices, making it a cost-effective and reliable choice for organizations looking to scale quickly.
Learn more about how to hire Ruby developers in Latin America.
Hire Ruby Developers in Mexico City vs. Bogota
When hiring Ruby developers in Latin America, the cities of Mexico City and Bogota stand out as attractive options. The following chart compares these two cities on five key aspects for hiring Ruby developers, which can help you make more informed and appropriate decisions for your team.
The following will delve into each aspect, providing a detailed comparison between Mexico City and Bogota. It will address hiring costs, the availability of talent in each city, the impact of time zones on remote collaboration, the quality of the technology ecosystem, and English proficiency. This information will be key to choosing the best place to hire Ruby developers, tailored to your company's needs.
Cost of Hiring Ruby Developers
When hiring Ruby on Rails developers in Latin America, cost-effectiveness is a key consideration. However, prices vary depending on seniority level, experience with frameworks such as Sinatra or Hanami, and experience with DevOps tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.
Mexico City: Mid-level Ruby developers typically cost between $3,750 and $6,250 per month, while senior developers command costs between $5,625 to $7,500 per month, depending on their proficiency in scalable architecture, microservices and API development.
Bogota: Due to lower living costs, salaries are a bit more competitive. Mid-level Ruby developers earn around $3,125-$4,875 per month, while senior professionals can expect between $5,625-$8,125 per month, mainly if they specialize in database optimization (PostgreSQL, Redis) and CI/CD pipelines.
Time Zone and Communication
When considering hiring Ruby developers from Mexico City or Bogota, understanding their time zone differences with U.S. cities like Miami and San Francisco is crucial for effective collaboration.
Mexico City: Mexico City operates on Central Standard Time, is one hour behind Miami during the middle of the year and two hours behind when Miami applies Daylight Saving Time. Compared to San Francisco, Mexico City is one hour ahead, making it a convenient option for businesses on both U.S. coasts, ensuring overlap for real-time collaboration.
Bogota: Follows Colombia Time year-round, shares the same time zone as Miami for half the year, but is one hour behind when Miami switches to Daylight Saving Time. With San Francisco, Bogota is two hours ahead, allowing for an overlap of business days.
Learn more about why time zone overlap matters for LATAM outsourcing.
Talent Pool
When looking to hire Ruby developers, both Mexico City and Bogota offer strong talent pools within Latin America's growing technology industry. However, each city presents unique advantages regarding workforce size, experience and industry support.
Mexico City: With a thriving tech ecosystem and proximity to the U.S., Mexico attracts global employers seeking skilled Ruby developers. The city is home to over 300,000 IT specialists, making it a key player in the region's software development industry.
Bogota: Known for its highly skilled professionals, Bogota has become a hub for international companies investing in software development and IT services. The city is driving innovation with projects like the Bogota Science, Technology and Innovation District, reinforcing its position as a leader in Latin America's technology sector.
Tech Talent Landscape
Mexico City and Bogota stand out as top tech hubs, each with a strong developer base, thriving startup ecosystems, and growing foreign investment.
Mexico City: As Mexico's leading tech ecosystem, Mexico City is home to 546 startups, representing nearly 49% of the country's startup market. U.S., Canadian and Chilean companies are among the top employers hiring Mexican software engineers for remote positions, taking advantage of the country's nearshore benefits. Mexico's rise from 10th to 7th in the world in foreign technology hiring reflects its growing influence in the international software development landscape.
Bogota: The country has attracted 738 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects totaling more than $9.8 billion. Software and IT services dominate the dominant sector, accounting for 20.2% of all foreign investment. Colombia has a 19% share of the region's IT outsourcing market, positioning Bogota as a prime destination for Ruby developers skilled in microservices, database performance optimization (PostgreSQL, Redis), and CI/CD pipeline automation.
English Proficiency
Clear communication is crucial when working with remote developers.
Mexico City: Mexico is ranked 87th in the world for English proficiency, with a score of 464 in Mexico City, reflecting a strong foundation in the language. In addition, Mexico City has a professional work culture that emphasizes deadlines, structured workflows, and collaboration, making it easier for companies to integrate developers into their teams.
Bogota: Colombia ranks 74th in the world, with Bogota scoring 513, indicating a moderate level of English proficiency. While many software developers in the city have strong technical skills, communication can sometimes require additional support, especially for highly complex projects. Culturally, Bogota's work environment is known for being adaptable and flexible.
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.
FAQ
Who are the developers of Ruby?
Ruby was created by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto in the mid-1990s. It has since evolved with contributions from an open-source community.
How much does it cost to develop Ruby on Rails?
The cost varies based on developer location, project complexity, and experience level. On average, hiring Ruby on Rails developers can range from $3,750–$7,500 per month, depending on the region.
How many Ruby developers are there in the world?
There are an estimated 1 million Ruby developers globally, though the number fluctuates as new developers enter the market.
Which country has the most developers?
The United States, India, and China have the highest number of software developers. Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina lead the developer population in Latin America.
Conclusion
Both Mexico City and Bogota offer strong talent pools, competitive rates, and solid time zone alignment for U.S. companies looking to hire Ruby developers. Your choice depends on your priorities—if cost savings and a slightly less competitive hiring market matter most, Bogota might be the better fit. Mexico City could be the ideal option if you need stronger English proficiency, more consistent time zone overlap, and a larger tech ecosystem. No matter which city you choose, finding the right developer is about more than just cost—it’s about quality, reliability, and seamless collaboration.
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.
