How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines?

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines?

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If you've started looking into hiring a virtual assistant from the Philippines, you've probably seen a wide range of numbers — anywhere from $4 to $15 USD per hour. The spread is confusing, and most websites don't explain what drives the difference.

Here's a straightforward breakdown based on what Australian and New Zealand businesses are actually paying in 2026.

The three pricing models

Most Philippine-based outsourcing providers use one of three models.

The first is direct hire through platforms like OnlineJobs.ph. You post a job, hire someone directly, and pay them a monthly salary. Typical rates for a general VA sit between $400 and $700 USD per month for full-time work. You get lower cost, but you handle everything yourself — training, management, payroll, and coverage if they're sick or quit.

The second is freelancer marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr. Rates here run $5 to $15 USD per hour depending on the skill level. You get flexibility and no commitment, but you're dealing with individuals, not a team. If they disappear, you start over.

The third is a managed service provider — a company like Velora that recruits, trains, equips, and manages team members on your behalf. Rates typically run $1,500 to $3,000 AUD per month per full-time team member. That's a fully loaded cost covering salary, benefits, infrastructure, equipment, management, and backup coverage.

What's included in a managed service

When you work with a managed provider, the monthly rate isn't just paying a salary. It covers the team member's wage and mandatory Philippine benefits (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, 13th month pay), the workspace and equipment they use, internet and power infrastructure, their direct manager who handles performance reviews, quality assurance, training, and backup coverage for leave and absences.

You don't have to worry about Philippine labour law compliance, equipment procurement, or what happens if someone calls in sick. That's handled for you.

What it actually costs compared to hiring locally

According to Indeed Australia, the average salary for an administrative assistant in Australia is approximately $70,247 per year. SEEK reports office assistant salaries averaging between $60,000 and $70,000. Once you add super, leave entitlements, workers comp, equipment, and office space, you're looking at $75,000 to $90,000 all-in per year.

A managed VA from the Philippines costs roughly $18,000 to $36,000 AUD per year depending on the provider and the skill level. That's a 50 to 75 percent saving — for a dedicated team member working your hours, using your tools, and managed by a professional operations team.

What affects the price

The main variables are skill level (a general admin VA costs less than a bookkeeper or property management specialist), hours required (full-time is more cost-effective per hour than part-time), and the level of management included (self-managed is cheaper, fully managed costs more but saves you time).

The bottom line

If you're paying over $60,000 a year for admin, reception, or back-office roles in Australia, you can get the same output for roughly a third of the cost through a managed offshore provider — with no recruitment fees, no leave liability, and no lock-in contracts.

The real question isn't whether you can afford to outsource. It's whether you can afford not to.

Ready to find out what a managed VA would cost for your business? Book a free discovery call →

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