How much does a virtual assistant cost?
Virtual assistant cost in 2026 runs $300 to $2,000 per month for typical part-time engagements (10 to 20 hours per week). US-based premium agencies sit at the top of the range at $1,200 to $2,000 per month with managed compliance and faster ramp. Offshore agencies run $300 to $800 per month for comparable hours but with more variability in English fluency and time-zone alignment. Direct freelance hires through Upwork or referrals are typically $15 to $30 per hour, which works out to roughly $600 to $2,400 per month at 10 to 20 hours per week. For specific work buckets, AI tools are dramatically cheaper than a VA. Phone answering through Aira runs $24.95 to $159.95 per month versus a VA premium of several hundred dollars to add phone duty (and async pickup speed even at the premium tier). The right framing is that VAs and AI tools cover different work; pair them rather than substitute one for the other. See the virtual assistant FAQ hub.
VA cost benchmarks (2026, 10-20 hr per week)
- US-based premium agency
- $1,200 to $2,000 per month
- Offshore agency (Philippines, LATAM)
- $300 to $800 per month
- Direct freelance hire
- $15 to $30 per hour
- Aira AI phone answering (different scope)
- $24.95 to $159.95 per month
Related questions
- What does a virtual assistant do?Virtual assistants handle email, scheduling, research, admin, and light project work async. Here's the realistic 2026 scope of the role and where it stops.
- How do you hire a virtual assistant?Three paths cover the field: US agency, offshore agency, or direct freelance hire. Here's how to pick, what to test for, and the realistic onboarding timeline.
- AI virtual assistant vs human VA: when does each win?AI tools win on phone coverage and structured workflows. Human VAs win on judgment, relationships, and complex async work. Here's how to think about the split.