When you're looking to hire Solana developers, location matters. The right choice can impact everything from communication and productivity to cost and talent quality. Two standout cities in Latin America that are devoted to blockchain and Web3 development are Guadalajara, Mexico, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both offer strong tech ecosystems with developers skilled in Rust, TypeScript, and smart contract development using Solana SDK and Anchor framework.
In this blog, we’ll break down key factors to help you decide: time zone alignment, cost, talent availability, English proficiency, and more. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which city aligns better with your hiring goals, whether you're building DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, or high-throughput dApps on Solana.
Hire Solana Developers in Guadalajara vs Buenos Aires
When it comes to hiring Solana developers, the location of the team has a significant impact on the success of your project. Guadalajara and Buenos Aires are two of the top cities in Latin America that offer highly skilled talent, but differences in key areas such as time compatibility, hire costs, developer experience, English proficiency, and support infrastructure can influence your choice.
We will discuss these factors in more detail below to help you make an informed decision about which of these two cities is best for hiring Solana developers based on your specific needs.
Time Zone Compatibility
Hiring remote talent in the same time zone optimizes real-time collaboration, reducing the communication gap and avoiding after-hours meetings. A study by Prithwiraj Choudhury and his team found that calls and video conferences decrease by 11% for every hour of time difference between workers, affecting the efficiency of remote work.
Guadalajara: Located in the Central Time Zone (UTC-6), Guadalajara offers significant overlap with U.S. business hours, facilitating real-time communication. For companies based in Miami, there is only a one-hour difference, while San Francisco is two hours ahead, still allowing for significant overlap in the business day.
Buenos Aires: Operating on Argentina Time (UTC-3), Buenos Aires is two hours ahead of Miami and five hours ahead of San Francisco. While this can be beneficial for early-morning progress on projects, it may also create challenges for real-time meetings with teams on the West Coast, requiring flexible scheduling. Developers working on blockchain-based platforms might need to adjust their availability for key discussions on infrastructure and security updates.
Learn more about nearshore staffing: Scale your team with agility.
Cost of Hiring Solana Developers
Budget considerations are paramount when expanding your team, especially in blockchain development, where expertise in Rust, Web3.js, and Solana smart contracts influences salary expectations.
Guadalajara: The average salary for Solana developers is approximately $2,500 per month, depending on their experience with Anchor framework, Solana SDK, and decentralized application (dApp) development.
Buenos Aires: Salaries for blockchain engineers range between $1,500 and $2,300 per month, influenced by proficiency in on-chain programming, validator node operations, and SPL token development.
While salaries in Buenos Aires may appear lower, it's essential to consider factors like inflation rates, the cost of living, and exchange rate fluctuations, which can impact long-term hiring stability.
Find out more about the top 10 cities to outsource to in Latin America.
Talent Pool and Expertise
The availability of qualified developers is a critical factor when looking for Solana and blockchain development specialists, as experience in Rust, Solana SDK, and smart contract deployment is required.
Guadalajara: Noted for its vibrant blockchain technology ecosystem and ongoing training of STEM professionals. Located in one of the largest economies in the country, it is the second most populated city with the highest GDP. Jalisco leads Mexico in terms of job training centers in decentralized application development (dApps), and Guadalajara is the main talent-receiving city in the western region. The IT industry in Jalisco represents 40% of the sector in Mexico, with more than 650 specialized companies, many of them focused on fintech, blockchain, and infrastructure solutions for DeFi, generating around 100,000 jobs.
Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires is home to some of the most recognized universities in Latin America, such as UBA, which is ranked 71st in the QS ranking of universities in the region. It is a cosmopolitan, dynamic and innovative city, with a strong focus on emerging technologies such as blockchain and Web3. Argentina has one of the highest numbers of unicorns per capita in the region, such as Ualá and is also the home of MercadoLibre, the largest e-commerce platform in Latin America, with 668 million monthly visits in 18 countries, demonstrating a high level of expertise in big data technology, scalable infrastructures, and blockchain security.
Find out more about the tech talent pool in Latin America.
English Proficiency
Effective communication is key to project success, especially in blockchain development, where collaboration on Solana smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and dApp architecture often involves international teams and open-source contributions.
Guadalajara: While English proficiency varies, many developers have experience working with U.S.-based Web3 startups and contributing to GitHub repositories in English, enhancing their language skills. Mexico ranks 87th out of 116 countries in English proficiency, and Guadalajara has an English Proficiency Index (EPI) score of 534. While this may be lower than in Buenos Aires, developers in Guadalajara frequently work in global blockchain ecosystems and are accustomed to collaborating in English.
Buenos Aires: Argentina generally exhibits higher English proficiency, which can be advantageous for technical documentation, smart contract audits, and international blockchain hackathons. The country ranks 28th out of 116 countries, with Buenos Aires scoring 566 on the EPI Index. This suggests that developers in Buenos Aires may have stronger English skills on average, reducing language barriers in code reviews, API documentation, and cross-border DeFi projects.
Infrastructure and Support
Access to reliable infrastructure facilitates efficient operations, especially in blockchain and decentralized application (dApp) development. If you are looking to hire Solana developers, access to robust infrastructure is critical to ensure smooth development cycles and efficient deployment of smart contracts.
Guadalajara: Ranked 214th in the world in terms of startup ecosystems, Guadalajara is the third-ranked city in Mexico. The city is home to 62% of the IT workforce, with a specialized infrastructure that includes more than 35 UX/UI design centers and a software development center focused on blockchain and cloud computing solutions. In addition to being one of the top-rated cities in Latin America by travelers, Guadalajara is also the third Mexican city with the most tech startups and is among the top four rated for new companies.
Buenos Aires: More than 500 technology startups have been identified in Argentina, and most of them are located in Buenos Aires. The city is one of the most important fintech centers in the country and the fifth in Latin America. Argentina has 343 fintech startups that have raised nearly $1 billion in funding, reflecting a thriving ecosystem in blockchain, smart contracts, and asset tokenization, which provides a solid base when you're looking to hire Solana developers for your projects.
Learn more about the top 5 benefits of outsourcing DevOps in Latin America.
Hire Solana developers with Teilur Talent's transparent pricing
When you hire Solana developers, cost transparency is as important as affordability. Many hiring platforms add hidden fees or take large cuts from developers’ salaries, making it difficult to know exactly what you're paying for. That’s where Teilur Talent stands out.
We believe in transparent pricing. Unlike most recruiting agencies, we openly disclose our margins, which never exceed 20% of the payment you make to candidates. That means no unexpected fees or surprises—just clear, upfront costs.
Beyond pricing, we handle everything from payroll and contract compliance to benefits and legal matters, allowing you to focus on scaling your development team without the administrative hassle. Payments are distributed transparently between your company and the hired developer, so you always know exactly where your money goes. With Teilur Talent, you get top-tier Solana developers with fair pricing and a streamlined hiring process—so you can focus on building, not navigating complex contracts.
Learn more about Teilur Talent's disruptive recruiting transparency pricing.
FAQ
How much do Solana developers make?
Salaries vary by location and experience. In Guadalajara, programmers earn around $2,500 per month, while in Buenos Aires, salaries range from $1,500 to $2,300 per month.
Who are the top Solana developers?
Top Solana developers are typically found through trusted platforms that evaluate candidates for technical expertise and cultural alignment, ensuring a good match for the project needs.
What is the cheapest country in which to hire Solana developers?
Countries like Argentina offer competitive rates, with monthly programmer salaries ranging from $1,500 to $2,300.
How do you hire Solana developers for a project?
To hire a developer, define your project requirements, source candidates through reputable platforms, assess their technical skills and cultural fit, and ensure clear communication channels are established.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing between Guadalajara and Buenos Aires when you hire Solana developers depends on your unique project requirements. If you value time zone alignment and proximity to U.S. markets, Guadalajara might be the ideal choice with its slight time difference from Miami and San Francisco. On the other hand, if strong English proficiency and a dynamic tech ecosystem are your priorities, Buenos Aires offers a compelling advantage with its higher language scores and competitive salary range.
Both cities present robust options for blockchain talent, ensuring you have access to skilled developers who can drive your projects forward. Whether you lean towards the streamlined collaboration benefits of Guadalajara or the innovative, cost-effective landscape of Buenos Aires, these insights should empower you to make a well-informed decision when you hire Solana developers.
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.
