The most common — and worst answered — question in web development is 'how much does a website cost?'. The honest answer is 'it depends', but that helps nobody. This guide gives concrete numbers for the current market, explains what moves them, and helps you understand what you're actually buying.
Real price ranges
In today's market, a professional high-performance landing page starts at $250-400. A multi-page corporate site with catalog, blog and lead capture runs $360-800. A functional e-commerce with payments and inventory goes from $480-1,500. A custom web application — with users, dashboards, internal processes — starts at $1,000 and scales with complexity. Below those ranges usually means recycled templates or work you'll abandon soon; above them, make sure the scope justifies it.
What factors move the price
Five things determine real cost: 1) Scope — a landing page isn't the same as a system with login. 2) Custom design vs. template — bespoke design takes UX/UI time that gets billed. 3) Integrations — connecting WhatsApp, payments, inventory or your ERP adds backend work. 4) Content — if you supply ready text, photos and catalog, the price drops; if they must be produced, it rises. 5) Technical SEO and performance — a fast, search-optimized site takes invisible work that shows in the price and in the results.
The hidden costs nobody mentions
The development price isn't the total cost. Add: domain ($10-20/year), hosting ($5-30/month depending on type), business email ($0-6/user/month), SSL certificate (usually included), maintenance and updates (10-20% of development per year is the healthy benchmark). A $300 site on $30/month hosting costs $660 in year one — always ask operating costs before signing.
Freelancer, agency, or do it myself?
DIY with Wix or WordPress.com costs little money but a lot of your time, and the result usually shows it was improvised. A freelancer is the middle ground: good price/quality if they have a real portfolio and clear process. An agency or studio charges more but delivers custom design, a fixed-scope contract, support and someone who answers when something breaks. The practical rule: if the website is critical to selling, it's not where you want maximum savings.
How to evaluate a quote without being technical
Always ask for three things: written fixed scope (what's included and what isn't), a committed delivery date, and what happens after launch (support, changes, maintenance). A serious quote details deliverables; a vague one just says 'complete website'. Distrust very low prices with no detail — cheap gets expensive when it has to be redone.
When it's worth investing more
Invest more when the website generates money directly: it sells online, captures leads your team closes, or automates work you do by hand today. A $300 landing that brings 5 clients a month is a better investment than a $3,000 system nobody uses. Start with the scope that solves today's problem and grow when the return justifies it.
At AMS Desarrollos we publish our starting prices (from $250 for the Start plan) and close scope, timeline and final price in writing before starting — no surprises or 'extra costs' mid-project. If you want a concrete quote for your case, message us on WhatsApp.