Key takeaways
- Price depends on pages, features, content and platform.
- Content is the most underestimated cost.
- Ongoing costs, hosting, domain, maintenance, are separate.
- Always compare quotes against the same written brief.
What actually drives the price
- 01 Number of unique page layoutsTen pages sharing one template cost less than five completely different designs.
- 02 Custom featuresBooking, calculators, member areas and integrations add development time.
- 03 E-commerceProducts, payments, shipping and tax rules add setup and testing.
- 04 LanguagesAn Arabic version means right-to-left layout and a second set of content.
- 05 ContentWriting copy and sourcing images is often as much work as the build.
- 06 SEO setupKeyword mapping, schema and speed work at launch.
Typical project types
What it includesRelative cost
Starter site5–8 pages, one template setLowest
Business site10–20 pages, custom design, SEOMedium
Online storeCatalogue, payments, shippingHigher
Bilingual siteTwo languages, RTL, hreflangHigher
Exact figures vary widely by market and scope, which is why a written brief and fixed quote matter more than any price list.
Ongoing costs to budget for
- Domain renewal every year.
- Hosting, monthly or yearly.
- Premium plugin licences, if used.
- Maintenance and support, if you want updates handled.
Ask every developer to list ongoing costs separately from the build price, so there are no surprises in year two.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on pages, features and content. The most reliable way to know is to share a written brief and get a fixed quote.
Developers often assume different scopes, especially for content, SEO and features. Comparing quotes against the same brief reveals the real difference.
It can be for a very simple site, but check page speed, ownership of accounts and what happens after launch.
Usually not. They are ongoing costs paid yearly or monthly, and should be in your name.
Written by
Bharathan.P
Chennai-based freelance WordPress developer and SEO & AEO specialist, building for the web since 2014, with teams in London and Kuwait and clients across India and the Gulf.