How Much Does a Website Cost in Melbourne? (2026 Pricing Guide)

"How much does a website cost?"

It's the question every Melbourne business owner asks when they start thinking about their online presence. And it's frustrating how hard it is to get a straight answer.

Ask ten different web designers and you'll get ten wildly different quotes—anywhere from $500 to $50,000. How are you supposed to know what's reasonable? What's actually included? And what you'll really end up paying by the time it's finished?

This guide cuts through the confusion. We'll break down exactly what websites cost in Melbourne in 2026, what affects the price, what you should expect at different price points, and how to avoid the common traps that blow budgets.

No sales pitch, no jargon—just transparent information to help you make a smart decision.

The Quick Answer: Website Pricing Tiers in Melbourne

Let's start with the overview, then dig into details:

| Type | Typical Cost | Best For |

|------|-------------|----------|

| DIY Website Builders | $0-50/month | Hobby projects, testing ideas |

| Template-Based Professional | $1,500-3,500 | Small businesses needing quality basics |

| Custom Small Business | $3,500-8,000 | Established businesses wanting competitive advantage |

| E-commerce | $5,000-15,000+ | Online stores with product catalogues |

| Advanced/Enterprise | $15,000-50,000+ | Large businesses with complex requirements |

Now let's break down what you actually get at each level.

DIY Website Builders ($0-50/month)

Platforms: Wix, Squarespace, Shopify (for e-commerce)

You pick a template, drag and drop your content, and publish. No coding required.

Pros:

• Cheapest option upfront
• Quick to launch
• No technical skills needed
• Good for testing an idea before investing more

Cons:

• Limited customisation (your site will look like many others)
• Often slow loading speeds
• You're responsible for everything: design, content, SEO, security
• Monthly fees add up over years
• Harder to rank well on Google
• "DIY look" can hurt professional credibility

Reality check: DIY works for side hustles or hobby businesses. But if your website is central to how you attract and convert customers, the limitations become costly. What you save in dollars, you often lose in missed opportunities.

Template-Based Professional ($1,500-3,500)

What you get: A professional web designer takes a premium template and customises it for your business—your branding, your content, your images, properly structured.

Typically includes:

• 5-10 professionally designed pages
• Mobile-responsive design
• Basic SEO setup
• Contact forms
• Google Analytics integration
• 1-2 rounds of revisions
• Some training on how to make updates

Best for: New businesses, service businesses with straightforward offerings, anyone wanting professional quality without custom pricing.

What to watch for: Make sure you own the site when it's done. Some agencies lock you into their hosting or charge fees if you want to leave.

Custom Small Business Website ($3,500-8,000)

What you get: A website designed specifically for your business—not a modified template. Strategy, custom design, and built to achieve specific business goals (usually more leads or sales).

Typically includes:

• Strategic planning session (understanding your customers and goals)
• Custom design (unique to your business)
• 10-20+ pages
• Advanced SEO optimisation
• Integration with booking systems, CRMs, or other tools
• Lead capture features (forms, pop-ups, chatbots)
• Professional copywriting (sometimes extra)
• Ongoing support and training

Best for: Established small businesses where the website is a key sales tool, businesses in competitive markets, anyone who's outgrown their DIY site.

Why pay more? At this level, you're not just paying for a website—you're paying for strategy. A good developer will understand how your customers think and build a site designed to convert them. The ROI usually makes the extra investment worthwhile within months.

E-commerce Websites ($5,000-15,000+)

What you get: A full online store with product catalogues, shopping cart, payment processing, inventory management, and shipping integration.

Typically includes:

• Everything in the custom category above
• Product catalogue setup (varies by number of products)
• Payment gateway integration (Stripe, PayPal, Afterpay)
• Shipping calculator integration
• Inventory management
• Order notification systems
• Customer account areas (optional)

Price depends heavily on:

• Number of products
• Complexity of product variations (sizes, colours, etc.)
• Required integrations (accounting software, inventory systems)
• Custom functionality (subscriptions, memberships, etc.)

Best for: Retail businesses, product-based businesses, anyone selling physical or digital goods online.

What Makes Website Costs Vary So Much?

Why can one quote be $2,000 and another $8,000 for seemingly similar work? Here are the biggest factors:

1. Custom Design vs. Templates

A template is pre-made and adapted. Custom design is created from scratch for your specific brand and goals. Custom costs more but delivers better results.

2. Number of Pages

A 5-page brochure site costs less than a 30-page site with multiple service categories, blog, and resource sections.

3. Content Creation

Do you have professional photos and polished copy ready to go? Or does the developer need to source/create these? Content creation adds significant cost but makes a massive difference to results.

4. Functionality

A simple contact form is basic. A booking system, client portal, custom calculator, or e-commerce adds complexity and cost.

5. Developer Experience

Experienced developers charge more but typically deliver faster, with fewer problems, and with strategic thinking that cheaper alternatives lack.

6. Ongoing Costs

Some quotes look cheap but don't include hosting, security, maintenance, or updates. Make sure you understand the full picture.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About

Beyond the initial build, budget for:

Domain name: $15-50/year for a .com.au domain

Hosting: $150-500/year for quality hosting (cheap hosting = slow sites)

SSL certificate: Often included with hosting, but essential for security and Google ranking

Email: $7-20/user/month for professional business email

Maintenance: $50-150/month for updates, security patches, and small changes (or pay hourly as needed)

Content updates: Budget time or money for keeping content fresh

SEO (ongoing): If you want to rank on Google, factor in ongoing optimisation

How to Get Good Value (Without Going Cheap)

1. Know your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves

Start with what you absolutely need. You can always add features later.

2. Provide quality content

Have your text, photos, and business information ready. Developers waiting on content = delays and sometimes extra costs.

3. Be decisive

Endless revision rounds blow budgets. Get clear on what you want before starting.

4. Ask what's included

Get itemised quotes. Understand exactly what you're paying for and what's extra.

5. Think about ROI, not just cost

A $5,000 website that brings in $2,000/month in new business pays for itself quickly. A $1,500 website that converts poorly is expensive at any price.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer

Protect yourself with these questions:

• Can I see examples of similar work you've done?
• What's included in the quote? What costs extra?
• Who owns the website and content when it's done?
• What platform will my site be built on?
• How long will the project take?
• What do you need from me to get started?
• What are the ongoing costs after launch?
• What happens if I need changes after the site is live?
• Do you offer support and maintenance packages?

A trustworthy developer will answer these questions clearly and happily.

CoreWebHub: Transparent Pricing, No Surprises

At CoreWebHub, we believe in honest pricing. When we quote a project, we include everything—no hidden fees, no surprise charges halfway through.

We specialise in small business websites in Melbourne, with packages designed to deliver real business results at prices that make sense:

Starter Package – $1,900

Perfect for new businesses needing a professional online presence.

Professional Package – $3,200

Our most popular option for established small businesses wanting more features and customisation.

Premium Package – $5,200

For businesses wanting comprehensive features, advanced SEO, and AI-powered tools.

Every package includes responsive design, SEO setup, contact forms, and training—no essentials sold separately.

Want a clear quote for your specific project? We'll give you an honest assessment, even if we're not the right fit.

Get Your Free Quote from CoreWebHub →