You're getting wildly different quotes and have no idea what's fair. One developer says R3,000. Another says R50,000 for "basically the same thing." What gives?
Here's the truth: website cost depends on what you're actually building. A brochure site is not the same as an e-commerce store. Custom code is not the same as a WordPress template. Let's break down exactly what you're paying for.
The Quick Answer
DIY (Wix, WordPress)
R0 - R500/m
You do everything. Months of work. Generic results.
Template Customization
R2,000 - R8,000
Developer modifies a template. Fast but limited.
Basic Custom Site
R3,500 - R10,000
5-10 pages. Custom design. Professional results.
Advanced Features
R10,000 - R25,000
Booking systems, user accounts, integrations.
E-commerce Store
R12,000 - R50,000+
Full online store. Payments, inventory, shipping.
What Determines Website Cost?
Number of Pages
Every page requires design, development, and content. More pages = more cost.
- • 5 pages: R3,500 - R6,000 (Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.)
- • 10 pages: R6,000 - R12,000
- • 20+ pages: R12,000+ (Depends heavily on complexity)
Design Complexity
Template or custom? Simple or intricate animations?
- • Template modification: R2,000 - R5,000
- • Semi-custom design: R5,000 - R10,000
- • Fully custom design: R10,000 - R30,000+
- • Advanced animations/interactions: +R3,000 - R10,000
Features & Functionality
This is where costs explode. Simple site vs complex application.
- • Contact form: Included (basic)
- • Booking/reservation system: +R3,000 - R8,000
- • User accounts & login: +R4,000 - R10,000
- • Payment integration: +R3,000 - R7,000
- • E-commerce (full store): +R10,000 - R40,000
- • Custom CRM/Dashboard: +R15,000 - R100,000+
- • API integrations: +R2,000 - R15,000 each
Content Creation
Do you provide content or does the developer write it?
- • You provide text/photos: Included
- • Copywriting (per page): +R500 - R2,000
- • Professional photography: +R2,000 - R10,000
- • Stock photos: +R500 - R2,000
SEO & Performance
Basic SEO should be included. Advanced SEO costs extra.
- • Basic on-page SEO: Included (should be)
- • Keyword research: +R1,000 - R3,000
- • Content optimization: +R2,000 - R8,000
- • Ongoing SEO (monthly): R2,000 - R10,000/month
DIY vs Hiring a Developer: Real Talk
DIY (Wix, Squarespace, WordPress)
- Cost: R0-500/month
- Time: 20-100+ hours of your time
- Quality: Looks like a template
- Speed: Usually slow
- SEO: Weak out of the box
- Ownership: Locked into platform
- Support: YouTube tutorials
Your time has value. 50 hours at R200/hr = R10,000 of your time.
Hire a Developer
- Cost: R3,500-50,000+ (one-time)
- Time: 1-4 weeks (their time, not yours)
- Quality: Professional & unique
- Speed: Optimized for performance
- SEO: Built-in from day one
- Ownership: You own everything
- Support: Ongoing if you want it
Focus on your business. Get professional results.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
Transaction Fees
Shopify charges 2% on all sales. Wix charges 2-3%. That's R200-300 per R10,000 in sales. Forever.
Monthly Platform Fees
Squarespace: R300-700/month. Shopify: R350-1,400/month. That's R4,200-16,800 per year.
Plugins & Add-ons
Need a booking system? R200/month. Email marketing? R300/month. Costs add up fast.
Hosting & Maintenance (If You Own It)
R80-250/month for professional hosting, security, backups. Factor this in.
What You Should Expect to Pay (South Africa, 2026)
5-Page Brochure Site (Small Business)
R3,500 - R8,000
Home, About, Services, Contact, Blog. Mobile-responsive, basic SEO, contact form.
10-Page Business Site
R8,000 - R15,000
Multiple service pages, team profiles, portfolio/gallery, testimonials.
Business Site + Booking System
R10,000 - R20,000
Everything above + online appointment/reservation system.
Small E-commerce Store (up to 50 products)
R12,000 - R25,000
Product pages, shopping cart, payment integration, inventory management.
Large E-commerce / Marketplace
R25,000 - R100,000+
Hundreds of products, advanced features, integrations, custom functionality.
Red Flags When Getting Quotes
"R500 for a full website!"
If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Probably a template with no customization.
Unclear Pricing
"We'll figure it out as we go." Get a detailed quote upfront or walk away.
They Don't Own Examples
Ask to see their portfolio. If they can't show you live sites they've built, run.
Mandatory Monthly Fees Forever
If you can't own your site outright, you're being held hostage. Optional support is fine, mandatory is not.
Need an Honest Quote?
We break down exactly what your project will cost and why. No hidden fees, no surprises. You'll know what you're paying for before we start.