Costs · 5 November 2026 · 7 min read
What does a website really cost? The cost items explained honestly
Why website prices vary so much: one-off costs, running costs, hidden items and how to compare quotes fairly. No teaser prices, clear questions instead.
"What does a website cost?" is one of the most common questions, and answers online range from a few euros a month to five-figure sums. Both can be right. Instead of a made-up number, here's what the price is made of, so you can judge quotes.
One-off costs: the build
- Concept: goal, audience, page structure, the key actions visitors should take
- Design: fully custom or adapted from a proven system
- Implementation: code, mobile optimisation, load speed
- Content: writing or editing texts, photos, translations
- Features: forms, booking, shop, ordering system, customer area
- Legal and tech: imprint, privacy policy, domain, email, SEO basics
Running costs: operation
- Domain and mailboxes
- Hosting: from simple web space to servers for shops and systems
- Updates and security, especially with WordPress and plugins
- Paid services: payment provider fees, booking tools, licences
- Content upkeep and small changes, yourself or as a service
The biggest price drivers
- 01
Features
A business-card site and an ordering system with online payment are completely different projects.
- 02
Languages
Each language means translation, review and upkeep.
- 03
Customisation
A fully custom design costs more than an adapted one.
- 04
Content
If texts and photos still need creating, that's often more work than the tech.
Comparing quotes fairly
- Is the price fixed, or billed by effort?
- What exactly is included, what costs extra (texts, photos, translations)?
- Who owns code, content and domain at the end?
- Which running costs come on top, and who handles updates?
- Are there real, clickable references?
Why cheap can get expensive
A very cheap website is fine as long as it does its job. It gets expensive when it's slow, breaks on phones, brings no enquiries or makes you depend on someone for every change. The right yardstick isn't the price, it's what the website brings your business.
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