How Much Does A Website Cost In Australia

In Australia, a professional website usually costs between $6,000 and $25,000 or more. The price depends on the type of website, what it can do, and who builds it.

In 2026, a website is more than just an online business card. It’s one of the most important tools a business uses to get customers.

Whether you are starting a new business or fixing an old website, it’s important to know how much it really costs to build a good one.

Simple do-it-yourself websites can cost around $500 per year, while custom WordPress websites or online stores can cost over $100,000.

This guide explains the real costs, compares DIY websites with professional ones, and shows extra costs that people often don’t expect.

Website Type	Cost Range	Best For
DIY Website	$500 – $1,500 per year	Individuals or new businesses with small budgets
Brochure Website	$2,000 – $10,000	Small service businesses showing their services
Online Store (eCommerce)	$20,000 – $50,000+	Businesses selling products and taking payments online
Custom Website or App	$30,000 – $150,000+	Businesses needing special features like bookings or custom software

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Website In Australia In 2026?

In Australia, the cost of building a website typically ranges from $6,000 to $25,000 or more. The final price depends on your goals, how complex the website is, and the provider you choose.

Below is a clear breakdown of where these costs usually come from.

1. Planning & Strategy ($500–$2,000)

This is the first and most important step. A good web design company helps you set clear goals, decide what pages your website needs, and plan the design for the people who will use it.

If this step is skipped, the website can be confusing or hard to use later on.

2. UX/UI Design ($1,000–$5,000)

Design is not just about how a website looks. It’s about making a website that helps bring in customers and keeps visitors interested.

Whether the website is simple or custom-built, the design helps guide people through the site and shapes their overall experience.

3. Development ($3,000–$10,000+)

This is the building stage. A web developer creates the website, sets up tools like WordPress, and adds special features.

The price is higher for more complex websites, such as ones with customer logins or online stores that sell products.

4. Content Creation ($500–$3,000)

Good website writing helps people find your site on Google. This includes clear text for your home page, service or product pages, and blog posts.

You may also need custom images or stock photos to help your website look more professional.

5. Testing & Launch ($500–$1,500)

This step makes sure your website works properly on all devices and web browsers. It also checks that the site is fast, secure, and easy to find on search engines like Google.

A website must be fully tested to make sure everything works before it is launched.

6. Project Management ($500–$2,000)

Every good website starts with clear planning and communication. A project manager helps organise the work, keeps the team on schedule, and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

The total price depends on what your business needs. A small website with a few pages costs less than a large website with many pages and special features. Spending more on good web design at the start can help your business grow faster and show up better in search results.

Website Design Cost Breakdown By Type

Let’s take a closer look at the different types of website building and compare how much each one costs.

1. DIY Website

If you build your own website using platforms like WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, or Wix, you will need to pay a basic yearly fee. This fee usually covers the website platform or hosting.

You may also need to pay for a professional website theme and extra tools (called plugins) to add features to your site.

• Cost: About $200 to $1,500 per year
• Pros: Low price and easy to set up
• Cons: Fewer design options and harder to grow as your business gets bigger

2. Brochure Website

This is the most common type of website for local service businesses. It usually has a home page, service pages, a contact page, and sometimes a blog or FAQ page.

The main goal is to look professional and help customers find important information.

• Cost: About $3,000 to $10,000
• Pros: Fast to build and easy to look after
• Cons: Limited features and functions

3. E-Commerce Website

Online stores are more complex than standard websites. They need features such as shopping carts, secure payment systems, product tracking, and order management.

These websites also require stronger security and more customised design, which increases the overall price.

• Cost: Approximately $20,000 to $100,000 or more
• Pros: Allows businesses to sell products online, process payments, and manage inventory efficiently
• Cons: Higher setup and ongoing prices due to security requirements, payment integrations, and delivery management

4. Custom Web Application

These are advanced websites built for specific purposes, such as software platforms, booking systems, or client portals. They usually require a professional web design and development team.

• Cost: Approximately $30,000 to $150,000 or more
• Pros: Full control over features, integrations, and the overall user experience
• Cons: High development prices and longer build times

Factors That Influence Website Development Cost In Australia

1. Scope & Complexity

The size and type of your website make a big difference to the price. A simple business website can cost much less than a software website, which needs complex coding and special features.

The more complicated the website is, the more it costs to build. This is because developers charge based on how many hours they spend working on it. A web agency will estimate the cost by working out how many hours are needed to build the website.

2. Design Customisations

Using a ready-made website template usually costs less. However, if you want a website with a custom design made just for your business, it will cost more.

Custom websites often include special layouts, moving parts, animations, and unique branding. These features can help your business stand out, but they take more time and skill to build, which increases the price.

3. Features & Additional Functionalities

The price of a website increases as more advanced features are added. Basic features, such as contact forms, banners, pop-ups, and blog sections, are simple to include and keep costs lower.

More advanced features, like online stores, booking systems, or customer management integrations, require more time to design and build, which increases the overall cost.

4. Hosting/Domain Cost

Website hosting and domain prices can vary depending on the type of hosting you choose. Higher-quality hosting options offer better speed, reliability, and security, but they also cost more.

Lower-cost shared hosting is not suitable for large websites or online stores, as it does not handle growth well and can lead to slower performance and more downtime.

5. Maintenance Updates & Upgrades

While WordPress and WooCommerce updates are free, many websites still have ongoing costs for plugins, especially when paid plugins are needed for specific features.

If you are not managing the website yourself, you will also need to budget for professional support and maintenance. These ongoing costs should be considered as part of your long-term website investment.

How Your Location Changes Your Budget

Where you are located makes a big difference.

Sydney

Small business websites typically cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more.

Why are prices higher?

• The price of living is higher compared to other cities
• Housing is more expensive
• Web developers are highly skilled and earn strong salaries
• Office space in city centres is very costly

As a result, freelancers often charge $80 to $150 per hour, while web design agencies usually charge even higher rates.

Melbourne

Small business websites typically cost $5,000 to $9,500.

This is around 12–18% cheaper than Sydney, but it is still considered premium pricing.

Rent is about 29.1% lower than Sydney, and general living prices are around 36% lower, which helps keep costs down.

However, some technological roles earn more in Melbourne. For example, data scientists can earn between $145,000 and $190,000 annually, showing that Melbourne is strong in certain tech sectors.

Brisbane

Small business websites usually cost $4,500 to $8,500.

This is about 20–25% cheaper than Sydney.

The overall price of living is around 25% lower. Public transport costs about $30 per month, compared to $200 per month in Sydney. This means developers don’t need to earn as much to cover daily expenses.

For example, cloud engineers who earn $140,000 to $180,000 in Sydney usually earn $120,000 to $160,000 in Brisbane.

Perth

Small business websites usually cost $4,000 to $8,000.

This is about 30–35% cheaper than Sydney.

Perth is far from the eastern cities, which means it has a smaller and less competitive tech industry. Web developers earn about $98,670 annually on average.

Even though Perth is more isolated, this can be a good thing for businesses. You can still get high-quality websites, often at lower prices.

Adelaide

Small business websites usually cost $3,500 to $7,500.

This is about 40–48% cheaper than Sydney.

Adelaide is one of Australia’s most affordable capital cities. Many developers choose to live there for a better lifestyle and are happy to charge lower rates.

The average monthly salary is about $4,283.55, which is lower than in larger coastal cities.

Regional & Rural Areas

Small business websites usually cost $3,000 to $6,000.

This is about 40–50% cheaper than Sydney.

Since COVID-19, many skilled developers work remotely. This means they can offer the same quality of work as big cities, but at lower regional prices.

How Australia Compares Globally

Website prices in Australia are high, but they are not the highest.

Global Cost Comparison

Country	Basic 5-10 Page Site	Developer Hourly Rate
Australia	$5,000-$10,000	$50-$200
New Zealand	$2,100-$26,250 (NZD)	$45-$180 (NZD)
United Kingdom	$4,800-$9,600 (£)	£40-£120
Canada	$3,300-$8,800 (CAD)	$40-$150 (CAD)
United States	$4,600-$15,300 (USD)	$50-$200 (USD)
India	$1,200-$8,000 (USD)	$12-$122 (USD)
Eastern Europe	$2,300-$15,300 (USD)	$23-$153 (USD)
Philippines	$2,000-$7,600 (USD)	$20-$76 (USD)

Why Australian Costs Are Higher

Labour costs

In Australia, developers usually earn $70,000 to $125,000 annually, while developers in India earn around $25,000 to $50,000 per year.

Business Overheads

Running a business in Australia is expensive. Office space in Sydney is some of the most expensive in the world.

Businesses also have extra costs, such as paying 11% superannuation, workers’ insurance, and professional insurance.

On top of that, businesses usually pay 25–30% in taxes, which adds to the overall price.

Operating Expenses

In Australia, electricity prices are higher than in many other countries.

Software licences often cost more in Australia, and the smaller market means there is less competition, which can keep prices higher.

The Offshore Alternative

Hiring developers from overseas can significantly reduce prices.

• Indian developers: around 65–85% lower cost
• Eastern European developers: around 40–60% lower cost
• Southeast Asian developers: around 60–75% lower cost

However, offshore development also comes with trade-offs:

• Communication can be more challenging
• Time zone differences of 4.5–7 hours may slow collaboration
• Maintaining consistent quality can require extra oversight
• Different work cultures can affect expectations
• Limited understanding of the local market

What Australian Developers Offer That’s Worth The Premium

Working with Australian web developers offer several key advantages.

They are native English speakers, which removes communication issues. They also work in the same time zone, allowing real-time collaboration.

Australian teams have strong knowledge of the local market, including:

• Customer behaviour
• Australian laws and regulations
• Common design preferences
• Local SEO and how Australians search online

There is also strong cultural alignment. Work standards, business practices, and expectations are similar, helping projects run more smoothly.

If issues arise, businesses have access to Australian legal protections.

Australian professionals operate to high standards, with verified portfolios, professional insurance, industry memberships, and references that can be checked.

For businesses where the website is a key source of revenue, paying a 40–60% premium for Australian web services often delivers better long-term value.

Additional Costs To Consider While Building A Website

There are ongoing costs that happen in the background and can affect your website budget. These costs are just as important as the cost to build the website.

Website Hosting & Domain

Every Australian website requires a domain name and web hosting. Shared hosting can be suitable for smaller websites, while high-traffic websites or online stores often need faster and more secure hosting solutions.

• Domain name: approximately $20–$50 per year
• Web hosting: approximately $20–$100 per month
• Dedicated hosting: $100 or more per month

Ongoing Website Maintenance

A website needs regular updates, backups, and security checks to stay safe and work properly. If you don’t have the technical skills, you may need to pay a developer or agency to manage this for you.

• Ongoing maintenance: about $100–$2,000 per month
• On-demand help: about $80–$150 per hour

Content, Tools & Licences

Some websites need extra tools, such as paid plugins, stock images, or booking systems. These can make your website better, but they are usually not included in cheaper or basic website packages.

• Paid tools and licences: about $50–$500 per year
• Stock images and assets: about $20–$200 one time

SEO & Analytics

To help your website show up on Google and get more visitors, you need basic SEO and tracking tools. These help you understand how people use your website and help turn visitors into customers.

• SEO setup: about $500–$2,000
• Google Analytics setup: free to $300 if someone sets it up for you

Why Your Industry Changes Everything

Not all websites cost the same amount.

Retail & E-Commerce

The investment for this type of website typically ranges from $10,000 to $80,000 or more.

Essential features usually include:

• Shopping cart functionality
• Secure payment gateway integration
• Inventory and product management
• Automatic GST compliance
• Australia Post shipping integration
• Buy-now-pay-later options such as Afterpay and Zip Pay

Professional Services (Lawyers, Accountants, Financial Advisors)

The investment for this type of website typically ranges from $5,000 to $12,000.

Why is the price higher?

• The website must meet strict regulatory and compliance requirements
• Official licences and registrations need to be clearly displayed
• Secure client login areas are required
• Services must be described in clear and detailed terms
• Team qualifications and credentials must be presented professionally

Hospitality (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Hotels)

The cost for this type of website usually ranges from $4,000 to $50,000.

One of the biggest costs is professional food photography, which can cost $500 to $2,000 per session. High-quality photos are important because they help turn people browsing online into customers.

Important features often include:

• Online table bookings using systems like OpenTable or similar
• Food delivery options through services like Uber Eats or Menulog
• Online ordering for customers
• Digital menus
• Social media links and feeds

Trades & Home Services

The investment for this type of website typically ranges from $500 to $10,000, making it the most affordable website category.

Costs are lower because the website has simpler requirements and is mainly focused on generating customer enquiries.

Common features usually include:

• A mobile-responsive design to work well on smartphones
• Quote request and contact forms
• Maps showing service areas
• Before-and-after image galleries
• Clearly displayed emergency contact information

Medical & Healthcare

The investment for this type of website typically ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 or more.

This industry has some of the strictest rules and compliance requirements, which increases website costs.

Mandatory features usually include:

• Clearly displaying AHPRA registration details
• Compliance with the Privacy Act 1988
• Following strict advertising rules, such as no testimonials or outcome claims
• Secure patient login areas
• Telehealth functionality
• Integration with practice management systems ($2,000–$5,000 additional cost)

Security is not optional. Websites must use encryption, secure backups, and regular compliance checks. These ongoing security requirements typically cost $500 to $2,000 per year.

Real Estate Agencies

The investment for this type of website can range from $500 to $50,000 or more.

The largest cost often comes from property portal integrations, which are required to display listings automatically.

Common expenses include:

• Listings on platforms such as realestate.com.au: $699 to $4,000+ per listing
• API integrations to connect systems: $2,000 to $5,000
• CRM system integrations: $2,000 to $8,000
• Ongoing listing fees: $149 to $699+ per property

Over time, these portal and listing fees can quickly exceed the cost of building the website itself.

Beauty & Wellness

The investment for this type of website typically ranges from $2,000 to $15,000.

A key requirement is a booking system integration, which allows customers to schedule appointments online.

Freelancer VS Web Design Agency: Which Offers Better Value?

Feature / Factor	Freelance Web Designers	Web Design Agency
Typical Cost	$1,000 – $10,000	$10,000 – $50,000+
Best For	Good businesses needing a simple or low-cost website	Medium to large businesses focused on growth
Design Quality	Depends on the freelancer’s experience	Professional quality from a full team
Technical Skills	Usually limited to a few skills	Full team covering design, development, SEO, and strategy
Project Management	Managed by the freelancer	Managed by a dedicated project manager
Support & Maintenance	Paid hourly, when needed	Ongoing support and maintenance plans
Scalability	Limited for large or complex websites	Designed to grow and add features over time
Timeline	Can be slower if the freelancer is busy	Often faster with a team working together
Risk Level	Higher risk if the freelancer is unavailable	Lower risk with systems and backups in place
Extras Included	Usually cost extra	Often includes strategy, SEO, and analytics

How To Find The Right Web Agency For Your Website?

Choosing the right web agency is very important if you want a website that meets your goals and shows your brand clearly. Here’s how to find the right one:

1. Define Your Needs

Start by clearly defining your website goals. For example, do you need an online store, a blog, or a portfolio website? The complexity of your website will help determine the type of designer you need.

• eCommerce websites: Look for a designer with proven experience using platforms such as WooCommerce or Shopify.
• Custom websites: Make sure the designer can create a unique, branded design tailored to your business.

2. Do Your Research

• Look at a designer’s past work and read reviews from their clients. This helps you see their style and how experienced they are.
• Online portfolios: Check websites like Behance or LinkedIn to see their work.
• Client reviews: Read what past clients say to understand what it’s like to work with them.

3. Ask About Process & Communication

A good agency should clearly explain how they work, how long the project will take, and how they will communicate with you. Make sure they reply on time and are happy to work with you.

4. Consider The Price

Make sure you understand how the agency charges, whether it’s by the hour or a set price. Check that the cost fits your budget and ask what is included, like updates or ongoing support.

Cost-Saving Tips For Building A Website

• Start with a simple setup: A basic website or entry-level WordPress site is often enough for startups. You can add more features as your business grows.
• Use pre-designed themes: Choosing a high-quality theme can significantly reduce design costs compared to a fully custom website.
• Plan your content early: Having your text and images ready helps avoid delays and reduces extra work, which can increase costs.
• Avoid unnecessary features: Focus on what your customers need now. Extra features can add cost without providing real value.
• Choose bundled web design packages: Many Australian web design providers offer packages that include hosting, support, and maintenance for a single monthly fee.
• Manage simple updates yourself: If you have basic technical skills, handling small updates can reduce ongoing hourly charges.
• Hire a quality web designer from the start: A low-cost solution may lead to higher costs later. A good designer builds a website that can grow with your business.
• Track website performance: Using analytics helps you understand what works, reduce wasted effort, and improve organic traffic over time.

Bottomline

In Australia in 2026, the cost of building a website depends on three main things: what your business needs, your goals, and your budget.

Whether you are a small business or building a large online store, understanding what affects website costs will help you make better choices and plan your budget wisely.

If you need a simple business website or a full online store, 10am Digital can help build the right website for you. We offer complete website services, including custom WordPress designs, special features, and online store setup.

If your current website is slow, old, or hard to use, contact us today. We can turn it into a fast, easy-to-use website that works better for your business.

Get a free website quote today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do I Need A Website?

A website helps your business look trustworthy and professional. It also helps people find you on Google.

Your website works like an online shop that can bring in questions, leads, or sales at any time, even while you sleep. Without a website, your business can miss out on many opportunities.

Can I Build A Website For Free?

You can use free website builders like Wix or WordPress.com, but they have limits. These can include ads on your site, no custom website address, and basic designs.

If you want your website to look professional and help your business grow, you will eventually need to spend some money on it.

Is It Worth Having A Website For A Small Business?

Yes, it can. A small business website helps you look professional, compete with bigger companies, and reach more local customers.

It is an important part of online marketing and helps people trust your business over time.

Do I Need A Website If I Have A Landing Page/One-Page Website?

A landing page is good for one short campaign or offer, but it is not enough for the long term.

A full website helps your business show up on Google, explain your services, and support growth over time.

How Much Does It Cost To Design A Australian Website?

The cost of a website depends on how big it is, what it needs to do, and who builds it. A simple website can start at around $3,000.

More advanced websites, such as custom WordPress sites or online stores, usually cost $10,000 to $30,000 or more. When planning your budget, remember to include the cost of design, building the site, and writing the content.

How Much Does It Cost To Build And Develop A Custom Website In Australia?

The cost to build a website in Australia depends on how complex it is. A simple website usually costs between $1,000 and $5,000.

A more advanced website can cost $5,000 to $10,000, and online stores often start at around $10,000.

These prices cover building the website only and do not include ongoing costs like maintenance, hosting, or domain fees.

How Long Does It Take To Build A Website?

Most websites take about 4 to 8 weeks to build. A small website with only a few pages can be finished faster.

Larger or more advanced websites take longer, especially if extra features are needed or if content and feedback are delayed.

Does Design Pricing Costs Include SEO?

Most website packages and design pricing usually include basic SEO features, such as working well on mobile phones, loading quickly, and using clean code. However, full SEO work (like choosing keywords, improving page content, and planning blog topics) is usually an extra service.

At 10am Digital, SEO is included in our Monthly SEO Package. This plan also covers website maintenance and ongoing support.