The model in one sentence
Cost = estimated hours for every choice you make in the wizard × LATAM blended rate. Time = those same hours spread over a 160-working-hour-per-month calendar. There's no magic formula or generic range: every wizard step (industry, platforms, integrations, support) adds hours and cost from a catalog maintained by the Ab4cus team.
The rate: ~$45 USD/hour LATAM blended
"Blended" means it averages different roles (frontend, backend, QA, design, PM) and seniority levels (mid to senior) into one representative figure for a mixed team working from Colombia, Mexico or Argentina. Teams based in Europe or North America multiply this cost by 2–3x for an equivalent scope.
A 40% margin is applied on top of the internal hourly cost, covering project management, quality assurance and the backing of a company (not an individual freelancer) behind delivery.
How the timeline is calculated
Calculation base: 160 working hours per month (4 weeks × 40 hours/week). The timeline you see in your quote is real project duration — not one person's non-stop clock hours — and includes the typical phases of a software project:
- Discovery and scope definition
- UX/UI design
- Frontend and backend development
- QA and testing
- Production deployment
What moves the price
What the estimate does NOT cover
- Third-party operating costs (AI tokens, KYC verifications, blockchain gas fees)
- Technical debt in an existing codebase you want to migrate or extend
- Scope changes after the initial quote
- A formal third-party security audit
For a closed, sector-specific number, the next step after the calculator is a call with our team.
Editorial transparency
Frequently asked questions
- What hourly rate does Ab4cus use to estimate?
- A blended rate of ~$45 USD/hour, representing a mixed senior/mid team working from Colombia, Mexico or Argentina.
- How is the project timeline calculated?
- Based on 160 working hours per month. The timeline shown is real project duration, including discovery, design, development, QA and deployment.
- What doesn't the estimate cover?
- Third-party operating costs, technical debt in existing code, or scope changes after the quote. It also doesn't replace a scope audit or a closed commercial offer.
- How often do you update the price factors?
- The team periodically reviews the effort and cost model against market benchmarks, with AI support for research and human validation before publishing any change.
Ready to apply this methodology to your own project?