"How much does a website cost?" is the most common question we hear — and the honest answer is: it depends. Website pricing in Melbourne ranges from a few hundred dollars for a DIY template to $50,000+ for a complex custom platform. This guide breaks down what you actually get at each price point and what factors drive cost.
Website Cost Ranges in Melbourne (2025)
- DIY (Wix, Squarespace, Webflow): $0–$600/year. You build it yourself. No developer cost, but significant time investment and meaningful limitations.
- Freelancer (basic): $800–$2,500. A basic WordPress site from a junior freelancer. Variable quality, limited support after handover.
- Small agency / experienced freelancer: $2,500–$6,000. Professional 5–10 page website with proper SEO foundations, mobile-first design, and ongoing support.
- Mid-market agency: $6,000–$15,000. Custom design, comprehensive SEO, complex functionality, e-commerce, or multiple integrations.
- Large agency / complex project: $15,000–$50,000+. Enterprise platforms, custom web applications, multi-location sites, complex integrations.
What Actually Drives Website Cost
Number of Pages and Complexity
A 5-page brochure site costs a fraction of a 50-page site with service area pages, blog, team profiles, and location pages. Each page requires design, copywriting, development, SEO optimisation, and testing. More pages = more cost, but also more SEO surface area.
Custom Design vs Template
A custom design created from scratch in Figma — tailored to your brand, differentiating you from competitors — takes significantly more time than adapting a purchased template. Custom design adds $1,000–$3,000 to most projects but delivers a genuinely unique result.
Functionality and Integrations
Contact forms are cheap. Online booking systems, e-commerce platforms, CRM integrations, custom calculators, member portals, and API connections are expensive. Complexity compounds: each additional integration adds development, testing, and ongoing maintenance.
Content Writing
Professional SEO copywriting costs $150–$400 per page. A 10-page website with professional content adds $1,500–$4,000. Many agencies include copywriting; many don't. Clarify what's included before signing.
SEO Setup
A website without SEO foundations is a brochure in a locked room. Basic on-page SEO (title tags, meta descriptions, heading structure) is included in professional builds. Comprehensive local SEO — keyword research, competitor analysis, Google Business Profile setup, schema markup — adds value and cost.
What to Expect from Each Price Tier
Under $2,500 — Be Cautious
At this price point, you're either doing significant work yourself (DIY platforms), or you're getting a very basic template with minimal customisation, little SEO, and limited support. These sites often require a full rebuild within 2–3 years. The total cost of ownership is often higher than a proper investment upfront.
$3,000–$6,000 — Professional Small Business Website
This is the sweet spot for most Melbourne SMBs. You get a custom-designed, mobile-first website with proper SEO foundations, contact forms, Google integration, and ongoing support. Built on proven technology that lasts 4–6 years before needing a refresh.
Our web design packages sit in this range for most small business projects.
$6,000–$15,000 — Growing Business
At this level, you get comprehensive functionality, multiple location pages, blog systems, e-commerce capability, and deeper SEO work. Appropriate for businesses that depend heavily on their website for lead generation or sales.
Ongoing Costs to Budget For
- Hosting: $15–$100/month depending on platform and traffic
- Domain renewal: $15–$40/year
- SSL certificate: Often included with hosting
- Maintenance and updates: $50–$200/month for a maintenance agreement
- Content updates: Variable — DIY or via an agency retainer
- SEO ongoing: $500–$2,000/month if you want active SEO growth
How to Get Value for Money
- Define your goals clearly — A website that generates leads has different requirements than a pure brochure site. Know what you need it to do.
- Ask for fixed-price quotes — Hourly billing for websites is a red flag. Get fixed-price with a clear scope of work.
- Check the portfolio — Does the agency build sites in your price range that you'd actually be proud to show customers?
- Ask about post-launch support — What happens if something breaks at month 4? Is support included or billable?
- Don't buy on price alone — The $1,500 website that doesn't generate any business is more expensive than the $5,000 website that pays for itself in month 2.
We offer transparent, fixed-price website packages for Melbourne businesses. Get a free quote and see exactly what you'll get and what it will cost — no hidden fees, no surprises.