Web development
How much does a website cost in 2026 — real numbers and what affects the price.
This is the question we get most often. And an honest answer doesn't fit in ten words — because "how much does a website cost" depends on the same things as "how much does an apartment cost": location, square footage, fittings, and the craftsman doing the work.
But real numbers can exist. Here they are, without the fog.
Presentation website — from €380
A presentation website is what 80% of small businesses need: three to seven pages, contact form, maybe a blog, basic SEO. The purpose — a client who finds you on Google or gets a referral has somewhere to verify who you are and what you do.
The real price of a quality presentation website in 2026 falls between €380 and €700. Here's what you get from a serious provider for that price:
- Responsive design (phone, tablet, desktop)
- Admin panel so you can change content yourself
- SSL certificate and basic SEO configuration
- Google Analytics and Search Console set up
- One hour of training and written guide
Business website — from €750
If a company has multiple services, a portfolio, or a team to showcase, it moves up to a business website — €750 to €1500. The difference from presentation:
- More pages (up to 20), structured navigation
- Portfolio or case studies section
- Serious CMS with categories and tags
- Advanced SEO setup — schema markup, internal linking, sitemap
- Integrations (newsletter, bookings, Calendly)
This is the level where a website stops being a "digital business card" and starts being a sales tool.
Online store — from €1200
An online store is technically a very different project. The difference isn't in design — it's in logic: product catalog, variants, inventory, payment, shipping, tax handling, returns.
A basic online store (up to 50 products, one payment method, integration with one delivery service) — from €1200.
A serious store (multilingual, multiple payment methods, B2B pricing, ERP integration, invoicing) — from €2500 upward, often up to €5000.
What specifically affects the price
Seven factors that move the final number:
- Number of pages and content volume. Five pages vs. twenty — that's the difference in hours of design and implementation.
- Who writes the copy — us or you. Copywriting — around €8 to €15 per page if done by the agency.
- Photos. Stock photos are cheap. Professional shoots — from €200 upward.
- Multilingual support. Adding a second language — typically 30–40% on top of base price.
- Integrations. CRM, newsletter, ERP, POS system — each integration is its own project.
- Custom design vs. tailored template. A unique design from scratch can double the price compared to a quality template.
- SEO work scope included in project. Basic SEO is always there. Deep SEO — separate contract.
Traps of "cheap" offers
When you see "website for €150" or "free website with hosting", pay attention to these five things — they're usually missing:
- You don't get admin access. Meaning you depend on the agency for every change, and every change is billed.
- Hosting is "free" only the first year. From year two, hosting cost becomes double the market rate, and you can't migrate without "buy-out".
- Template is overdesigned and slow. Cheaply made sites typically fail Core Web Vitals testing, and Google ranks them lower because of it.
- No SSL certificate or expired support. Browser shows "Not secure" warning and clients leave.
- No backups. When the site crashes or gets hacked — there's nowhere to revert.
"Cheap craftsmanship always costs more." — old rule that applies to websites too. A website is a tool you'll use for 3–7 years. A €300 difference at the start, spread over five years, is €5 per month.
Domain and hosting — hidden costs
Some providers present the site "with hosting included", but hosting renews yearly and you should budget:
- .rs domain — about €15 yearly (registry fee).
- .com domain — €10-15 yearly.
- Hosting for smaller site — €40-80 yearly on standard shared hosting.
- Hosting for store or high-traffic site — €120-300 yearly.
- SSL certificate — usually free (Let's Encrypt), but verify it's activated.
How to request quotes smarter
When asking for a price, don't just say "I need a website". Give the agency basic info:
- What you do and for whom. Two sentences.
- Roughly how many pages. Approximate — you don't need a final list.
- Whether you need a store. Or just presentation.
- One language or multiple.
- Do you have logo and photos. Or does design start from scratch.
- When you want it done. Realistic deadline, not "ASAP".
- Your budget range. Yes, saying this is fine — saves everyone time.
Want a quote for your specific website?
30 minutes of consultation — we calculate the exact number for your case.
Book a time →Quick summary
- Presentation website — €380 to €700.
- Business website — €750 to €1500.
- Online store — €1200 upward.
- Annual costs (domain + hosting) — €55 to €200.
If you see offers outside these ranges — ask why. A lower number usually means something is missing. A higher number must justify what you're getting (custom design, deep integrations, extended support).
Happy Media has been doing web development in Belgrade since 2010. For a detailed quote for your specific case — book a consultation or email marko@happymedia.rs.