Last updated: 2026

How much does a website cost?

The honest answer: anywhere from ₹2,499/month to ₹5,00,000+. It completely depends on how you get it built. This guide breaks down every option — with real numbers.

⏱ 5 minute read·📊 Real 2026 prices·💡 Recommendation at the end

Quick summary

DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
₹18,000–₹66,000/year
You build it yourself
WordPress (self-hosted)
₹17,600–₹88,000/year
Requires technical skill
Freelance designer
₹40,000–₹4,00,000 upfront
Plus ₹4,000–₹16,000/month ongoing
Web agency
₹50,000–₹5,00,000+
Plus ₹12,000–₹40,000/month retainer
Done-for-you (Metalique Studios)
₹2,499/month
Built for you in 3–5 days ✓

The real cost of a website (what they don't advertise)

Every option has headline pricing. These are the real costs that add up — often doubling or tripling the quoted price.

Cost itemTypical priceNotes
Domain name₹800–₹1,299/yearyourname.com via Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.
Hosting (basic)₹400–₹2,500/monthRequired for WordPress. Included free with Metalique Studios, Wix, Squarespace.
SSL certificate₹0–₹8,000/yearFree with most modern hosts. Required for Google trust signals.
Premium theme/template₹0–₹16,000 one-timeOften needed to look professional on WordPress.
Essential plugins (WordPress)₹0–₹40,000/yearSEO, security, backup, forms, caching — adds up fast.
Professional photos₹16,000–₹1,60,000Stock photos make sites look generic. Real photos convert better.
Copywriting₹25,000–₹1,60,000Most business owners write their own copy — but professional copy converts better.
SEO setup₹25,000–₹1,20,000Often an afterthought. Metalique Studios includes it in every build.
Ongoing maintenance₹4,000–₹25,000/monthSecurity updates, backups, bug fixes. Often forgotten until something breaks.

Metalique Studios includes domain support, hosting, SSL, SEO setup, and ongoing maintenance — all in the ₹2,499/month price.

Every option, honestly reviewed

Here's a no-nonsense breakdown of every way to get a website built — who it's for, what it actually costs, and what the catch is.

Build it yourself (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy)

Think carefully
Upfront cost
₹0
Monthly cost
₹1,500–₹5,500/month
First year total
₹18,000–₹66,000/year
Your time
20–60 hours of your time
Pros
  • ✓Cheap to start
  • ✓You control every detail
Cons
  • ✗You spend your evenings learning software
  • ✗Hard to make it look professional
  • ✗SEO requires separate effort
  • ✗Still costs ₹18,000–₹66,000/year
Best for: Hobbyists, very early-stage businesses with no budget and lots of time

Hire a freelance web designer

Maybe
Upfront cost
₹40,000–₹4,00,000
Monthly cost
₹4,000–₹16,000/month
First year total
₹88,000–₹7,00,000 first year
Your time
4–12 weeks
Pros
  • ✓More custom than a DIY builder
  • ✓Direct relationship
Cons
  • ✗Huge upfront cost
  • ✗Quality varies enormously
  • ✗Every future change costs money
  • ✗What if they disappear?
Best for: Businesses that want something custom but can't afford an agency

Hire a web design agency

Think carefully
Upfront cost
₹50,000–₹5,00,000+
Monthly cost
₹12,000–₹40,000/month
First year total
₹1,94,000–₹5,80,000+ first year
Your time
2–6 months
Pros
  • ✓Professional result
  • ✓Full-service
Cons
  • ✗Most small businesses simply can't afford it
  • ✗Long timelines
  • ✗Ongoing retainer to make changes
  • ✗Overkill for a local business
Best for: Established businesses with significant marketing budgets

WordPress (self-hosted)

Think carefully
Upfront cost
₹8,000–₹40,000 (theme + plugins)
Monthly cost
₹800–₹4,000/month (hosting)
First year total
₹17,600–₹88,000 first year
Your time
20–100 hours to set up
Pros
  • ✓Highly flexible
  • ✓Large plugin ecosystem
  • ✓You own everything
Cons
  • ✗Steep learning curve
  • ✗Security updates required
  • ✗Plugins break
  • ✗Effectively a second job to maintain
Best for: Tech-savvy users, content-heavy sites, developers

Done-for-you service (Metalique Studios)

✓ Best for most local businesses
Upfront cost
₹0
Monthly cost
₹2,499/month
First year total
₹29,988/year
Your time
2 minutes (you fill out a form)
Pros
  • ✓Custom-built for your business
  • ✓Live in 3–5 days
  • ✓Updates handled by our team
  • ✓30-day money-back guarantee
  • ✓Cheapest professional option
Cons
  • ✗You don't have direct edit access (you email us for changes)
Best for: Local businesses who want a great website without doing it themselves

Our recommendation for local businesses

If you run a local business — a restaurant, salon, plumbing company, gym, dental practice, or any other service business — you need a professional website that shows up on Google, looks great on phones, and doesn't require you to become a web developer.

Agencies are too expensive (₹50,000–₹5,00,000+). DIY builders require you to spend your evenings learning software and still end up looking generic. WordPress is a second job.

Metalique Studios builds a custom website for your specific business in 3–5 days for ₹2,499/month. That's it. You fill out a 2-minute form, we build it, you approve it, we launch it.

Get My Website Built — ₹2,499/month →

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Common questions

Is a ₹2,499/month website actually professional quality?
Yes. Metalique Studios sites are custom-designed by our team for your specific business — not generic templates you fill in yourself. We've built 812+ sites for restaurants, law firms, gyms, clinics, and local service businesses. See examples at metaliquestudios.com/showcase.
What's the cheapest way to get a website?
A DIY builder (Wix free plan) costs ₹0 upfront, but will have ads, a non-custom domain, and look unprofessional. For a real business website, Metalique Studios at ₹2,499/month is the most affordable professional option — cheaper than Squarespace, Wix Business, or any freelancer.
Do I need to pay for a domain name?
You can start with a free yourname.metaliquestudios.com address. To connect a custom domain like yourname.com, you'll pay the domain registrar ~₹800–₹1,299/year (not us). We handle all the technical connection at no extra cost.
What if I already have a website and want to redesign it?
We handle that too. Tell us about your existing site and what you want to change. We rebuild it on Metalique Studios in 3–5 days — typically for a fraction of what a redesign through an agency would cost.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. The ₹2,499/month includes hosting, SSL, custom domain support, SEO setup, and access to our team for updates. E-commerce (Stripe payments) requires the Growth plan at ₹4,999/month. That's it.