A professionally built WordPress website in Australia costs A$2,500–$10,000 for a small business site, depending on how custom the design is and what functionality you need. Template-based builds sit at the lower end; fully custom designs with bespoke functionality sit at the top. On top of the build, budget for hosting, premium plugins, and ongoing maintenance.
WordPress is the most popular platform in the world, which means prices vary enormously — from a few hundred dollars for a DIY effort to tens of thousands for a complex build. Here's what a professional small business WordPress site actually costs in Australia, and what you should expect for it.
The tiers: what your budget buys
- Template-based WordPress (A$2,500–$4,000) — a quality premium theme customised to your brand, mobile-responsive, with the core pages and a contact form. Good value for straightforward needs.
- Custom WordPress (A$5,000–$10,000+) — a design built specifically for your brand, custom functionality, more pages, and proper SEO foundations. The right tier for established businesses that want to stand out.
The jump in price is mostly design and development effort: a custom build is created for you, while a template build adapts something that already exists. Our WordPress vs Squarespace vs Framer comparison helps if you're still weighing the platform itself.
What's included vs what costs extra
This is where quotes diverge, so ask precisely what's covered. Typically included:
- Design and build
- Mobile responsiveness
- Core pages and a contact form
- Basic SEO setup
- A short post-launch support window
Often extra:
- Copywriting — professional content is usually A$100–$300 per page
- Photography — a shoot can be A$500–$2,000
- Premium plugins — for bookings, memberships, or advanced forms
- Ongoing maintenance — updates, security, and backups after launch
A cheap-looking quote sometimes just excludes things a complete quote includes, so compare like for like. For the bigger picture, our guide to website costs in Australia covers the full landscape.
Hidden costs to budget for
WordPress's flexibility comes with running costs people forget at quote time:
- Hosting — A$15–$100/month depending on quality (don't skimp; cheap hosting is slow and less secure)
- Domain — A$15–$50/year for a .com.au
- Premium plugins — A$0–$500/year for the paid tools your site relies on
- Maintenance — A$50–$300/month for updates, security, and backups (essential on WordPress)
That last one isn't optional in practice. Unmaintained WordPress sites are the easiest to hack, so factor in a maintenance plan from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a WordPress website cost in Australia?
A professional WordPress website in Australia costs A$2,500–$10,000 for a small business site. Template-based builds run A$2,500–$4,000, while fully custom designs with bespoke functionality run A$5,000–$10,000 or more. On top of the build, budget for hosting, premium plugins, and ongoing maintenance.
Why are WordPress website quotes so different?
Quotes vary because "WordPress website" covers everything from a lightly customised template to a fully bespoke build, and because some quotes exclude things others include — like copywriting, photography, premium plugins, or maintenance. Always compare exactly what's covered rather than the headline price alone.
What are the ongoing costs of a WordPress website?
Expect hosting (A$15–$100/month), a domain (A$15–$50/year), any premium plugins (A$0–$500/year), and maintenance (A$50–$300/month) for updates, security, and backups. Maintenance is effectively essential on WordPress, since unmaintained sites are the most common targets for hacking.
Is WordPress cheaper than a custom Next.js build?
Usually yes upfront — WordPress builds often cost less than custom Next.js development because they use existing themes and plugins rather than fully custom code. However, WordPress carries higher ongoing maintenance needs, so the long-term difference is smaller than the initial price gap suggests.
Want a WordPress site done properly?
We build custom WordPress websites for Australian businesses — fast, secure, and designed to convert, with transparent pricing and no surprises. Explore our WordPress website design in Melbourne, our national WordPress website design service, or the broader how much a website costs in Australia guide. Get in touch for a detailed quote.