How much does a website cost in 2024?

Have you ever wondered how much a website costs? It's a bit like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" The answer can vary based on numerous factors, including how much you're willing to invest, what you want to achieve, and what bells and whistles you want.

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or a creative freelancer, having a website in 2024 is a non-negotiable. It’s where your customers learn more about your business, see examples of your work, and get in touch with you. In short, it houses everything your business needs to thrive.

But, if a website is so important, why doesn’t every business have one? The answer, quite often, is cost. While the benefits of having a website are undeniable, the financial aspect can be a stumbling block. The truth is that the cost of creating and maintaining a website can vary widely, and it's not always easy to estimate.

In this blog, we'll break down the factors that influence website costs in 2024 to help you understand what goes into the price tag. We'll explore the choices you have and provide tips on optimising costs without compromising your user experience.

Why Are Website Costs So Difficult to Estimate?

When building a website from scratch, it's not just a matter of setting up a simple webpage (unless of course, you opt for a Savvy site). Instead, a full website is a collaborative effort involving multiple professionals.

Typically, the people involved in building a website include:

Web designer: Responsible for the visual elements and user interface design of your website. They create layouts, choose colour schemes, and design graphics to ensure an appealing site.

Cost: R200 – R800 per hour

Web developer: Transforms the design into a functional website. They write code, handle databases, and ensure all features work smoothly.

Cost: R250 – R2,500 per hour

Content creator: Develops compelling content for your website, including text, images, videos, and other media. Quality content is essential for engaging users and improving your SEO (search engine optimisation).

Cost: R450 – R600 per hour

SEO specialist: Focuses on optimising your website for search engines to improve its visibility in search results. They work on keywords, meta tags, and other SEO strategies.

Cost: R550 to R1,500 per hour

Project manager: Oversees the process, ensuring team members meet deadlines. If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to manage the process yourself—but remember, this will be time-consuming and take focus away from your core business duties.

Cost: R300 to R600 per hour

With such a diverse team, it's no wonder that website costs can be challenging to estimate. Each team member's skills add to the overall expense, so the complexity of the project (and therefore how many hours it takes to complete) can vary from one website to another.

3 Major Factors That Influence Website Cost

Website complexity

​​The more features, gadgets, and customised elements you want, the higher the cost will be.

If you're looking for a straightforward, one-page site with basic info and contact details, you're on the budget-friendly side. But if you want an extensive website with various sections, features, and functionalities, be prepared to invest more.

Expertise

The saying, “You get what you pay for,” holds true when it comes to choosing the professionals to build your website. While it might be tempting to opt for a less experienced team, cheaper isn't always better.

An experienced team has honed their skills through countless projects—they can navigate challenges, troubleshoot issues, and complete tasks within the timeframe. In contrast, junior professionals may struggle with unexpected complications, leading to delays and cost overruns.

Finding a less experienced team may seem like an easy solution to keep your budget under control, but there is a trade-off: when you choose a team solely only on their affordability, you risk compromising your website, potentially leading to a poor user experience, lost business opportunities, and additional expenses down the road.

Maintenance and updates

Just like a car needs regular maintenance to run smoothly, your website requires ongoing care to stay functional and secure.

Maintenance includes tasks like software updates, security patches, and bug fixes. These efforts ensure your site remains stable, secure, and up to date with the latest technologies.

While building a website may seem like a one-time investment, maintenance and updates are ongoing expenses that ensure your website keeps delivering value.

Website Cost Breakdown

Using the professionals we’ve highlighted above and their average hourly rate, let's break down the cost estimates for each type of website:

Simple website

Here’s a breakdown of the costs of a straightforward, one-page website built by mid-level professionals:

The estimated total cost for a simple website would be around R25,000 to R50,000. In addition, domain registration will be an ongoing cost at R50 to R150 per year for a .co.za domain, or R100 to R400 per year for a .com domain.

Complex website

For a more complex website with multiple pages, custom functionalities, and highly experienced professionals, the costs will increase:

The estimated total cost for a complex website would be around R150,500 to R301,000. Depending on the domain type you choose, you can expect annual hosting costs of R50 to R400 per year.

But here’s the good news—unless your business is a multinational corporation or large e-commerce platform with security encryption, user profiles, calculators, and complex features, your website doesn't need to cost you an arm and a leg.

Unfortunately, for budding entrepreneurs on a tight budget, even a simple website on the low end of the scale could be too expensive.

Enter Savvy. Savvy is a user-friendly, code-free, one-page website builder designed to simplify the process of establishing your online presence. With Savvy, you can create a professional website that builds trust, generates leads, and helps you get paid—all without breaking the bank.