If you’re starting a new business or upgrading your online presence, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: “What is the cost of creating a website your website?”, whether you’re in South Africa or anywhere else, the answer depends on the type of site you need, the platform it’s built on, and who you hire to create it.
In this guide, we’ll break down your typical website costs, from the domain name you choose and hosting your website to the actual building of the website itself… I’ll also explain why Kaira takes a different, future-proof approach to web development and why you should consider us over other companies to build your website.
Why trust us? We’ve been building WP products, client websites and contracting to top media agencies (so work cannot be listed on kaira.co) for over 15 years.
Right, before getting to the cost of creating a website, first let’s go over…
Choosing the Right Platform: Why We Recommend WordPress Over Others
When you’re looking to create a website in South Africa, after doing a bit of Googling, you’ll realize there are many platforms to choose from… Shopify, Wix, Webflow, and more. While most of them are good platforms, and each has its pros and cons… One of the most important factors to consider is ownership.
- Shopify is great for e-commerce, but your store is hosted entirely on their system. If you ever want to move away, you’re limited in what you can take with you.
- Wix offers simple drag-and-drop design, but it’s also a closed platform, you can’t just export your site and host it elsewhere.
- Webflow gives you more design flexibility, but again, you’re tied to their hosting and ecosystem.
The downside?
With these platforms, you don’t fully own your website. Your site’s files and data live on their servers, and if you stop paying, you can lose access.
That’s why at Kaira, we usually always recommend WordPress, because:
- You own everything – Your site’s code, content, and database are all yours.
- Freedom to move – You can change easily hosting providers without losing your site.
- Endless flexibility – From small blogs to large online stores, WordPress is very scalable and can grow with you.
- Global community support – Millions of developers worldwide create plugins, themes, and tools to enhance WordPress.
When you invest in a WordPress website, you’re not just buying a website, you’re securing your full control over your online presence for the long term.
There’s a reason 43% of the internet is built on WordPress.
Why Our Approach is Different (and Why It Matters)
One of the biggest differences between Kaira and many other web development companies in South Africa is how we build your website from the ground up.
A large portion of agencies rely heavily on page builders like Elementor or Divi. Elementor is a great page builder, and we do sometimes recommend it ourselves, if you know how to set everything up correctly.
Where other builders like Divi might come with extra hidden costs, bloated code, slower loading speeds, and compatibility issues down the line, as Divi is an old theme and WordPress has undergone a lot of major changes over the last few years.
At Kaira, we take a different path.
We’ve been building WordPress themes and plugins for over the past 15 years which are used by thousands of people worldwide, and we focus on core WordPress methods.
That means:
- The Fastest loading times: We keep your site lean, clean, and highly optimised from day one.
- Better SEO performance: Search engines reward speed and technical efficiency.
- Greater security: Less bloat means fewer potential vulnerabilities.
- Easy maintenance & scalability: Your site is built to grow with your business, and should be easy to update or maintain yourself.
Before you choose a web development company, we recommend asking these two questions:
- What builder or framework do you use? (If they rely on heavy page builders, ask about performance optimisation.)
- Check their own website’s Google PageSpeed score yourself (If their site is slow, it’s a sign your site might be too.)
Check their website using Google PageSpeed… You should be seeing all green circles on the Desktop version at least:
We believe that when you invest in a website, you should get a high-performing, future-proof platform, not just a quick drag-and-drop template.
At Kaira, that’s exactly what we deliver… And if you need a website or online store, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Ok, then, let’s get back to the cost of creating a website…
Your Domain Name and Hosting Costs
Before your website is live, you’ll need these two essentials for putting your site onto the internet:
- Domain name: This is your web address (e.g., yourcompany.co.za). In South Africa, a
.co.zadomain usually costs around R80 – R150 per year. - Website hosting: This is where your website’s files are stored on the internet. For a small to medium business website, expect to pay R80 – R300 per month for reliable hosting.
At Kaira, we always recommend fast, secure hosting so your website loads quickly, a factor that’s vital for both your Google rankings and user experience.
If you live in South Africa and your website is mostly for South African visitors, then we recommend hosting your website with Xneelo, as with our years of experience, they have been the best when comparing price, product and customer service… And you will most likely only need their Basic package for R99 per month.
If you’re wanting to reach an international (to SA) audience, then get in contact and we can recommend other hosting platforms, as we have partnerships (with our WP products) and a lot of experience with 5 of the best hosting companies worldwide.
The next cost of creating a website… The initial WordPress setup and build.
Initial Website Build: The Cost of Creating a Website
The cost of creating a website is usually a once-off cost unless you want ongoing services.
For a basic informational website, you’re looking at starting prices of around R7,000… This covers the essential pages and setup needed to get your business online.
If you need additional features such as booking systems, integrations, or an online store, the price will increase depending on complexity.
You can build in phases too, such as adding an online store later or extra custom feature, and that again be a once-off cost unless you choose an ongoing maintenance or SEO retainer.
Several things influence the cost of creating a website in South Africa:
- Number of pages (more pages = more design and content work)
- Design complexity (custom layouts, animations, and graphics)
- Functionality (e-commerce, booking systems, integrations)
- SEO and content writing (to increase site SEO ranking)
- Ongoing support, fixes & updates
Not Sure What You Need? Let’s Talk.
If you’re not 100% sure what type of website or features your business needs, we’re here to help.
We’ll chat with you about your goals, your budget, and the results you want to achieve, then guide you towards the best solution.
Depending on what you need or what budget you have, we can always start small and expand later, or we can build everything from day one… We’ll make sure you get a website that works for you, without paying for things you don’t need.
Summary of Costs
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Domain name | R80 – R150/year |
| Hosting | R80 – R300/month |
| Basic website build | From R7,000+ once-off |
| Online store upgrade | Additional once-off |
| SEO/content retainer | Optional monthly cost |
Conclusion
As you’ve now learnt, the cost of creating a website in South Africa can vary widely, and understanding the breakdown we explained, from domain and hosting to the actual build, helps you plan with confidence.
So, whether you’re starting with a basic informational site or investing in a full-featured online store, the most important thing is to choose a web development partner who builds for performance, scalability, and long-term ownership.
At Kaira, we’ve been crafting high-quality WordPress websites for over 15 years, ensuring every site we build is fast, secure, and easy to maintain yourself.
If you’re ready to take the next step towards a professional, future-proof online presence, we’re here to guide you through every stage of the process, and deliver a site that will perform well for you, and that you’ll be proud of.
Some Costing FAQ’s
How much does a basic website cost in South Africa?
A basic informational site starts somewhere around R7,000, and the price will increase depending on any extra functionality that needed.
This also excludes your domain name and website hosting costs.
What is included in a website design package?
Most packages include web design, development, basic SEO setup, and mobile optimisation.
At Kaira also ensures your site is speed-optimised and fully responsive from the start.
Is the website cost a once-off or ongoing?
The initial build is a once-off.
Ongoing costs are only for hosting, domain renewal, and optional SEO/content services to increase your site ranking.
Why should I choose a developer that uses core WordPress over page builders?
Core WordPress sites are faster, very secure, and lighter than sites built with bulky page builders like Divi, which can slow your site down.
How do I check a web design company’s quality before hiring?
This is a simple trick to give you a rough idea of the website you’ll receive… Add their site url to Google PageSpeed Insights to test their own website. If it scores poorly, it’s a bit of a red flag.
Can I start small and add features later?
Of course!
You can start with a basic site and later add an online store, booking system, or any other custom tools without rebuilding everything.