Web development rates in Budapest 2026: €2k-€20k

The Budapest web-development market is sharply tiered in 2026. A WordPress freelancer charges €1,500. A boutique agency charges €15,000. They sometimes use the same words to describe their work. This is a transparency report on what each tier actually delivers - so a buyer can size up RFPs without getting played.

Tier 1 · Template build · €2,000-€3,000

WordPress, Wix, Shopify with a stock theme, or a Webflow template skinned to your brand. Typical timeline: 3-5 weeks. Content upload usually on you, or +€150-400. Basic SEO (sitemap, meta, schema) often missing - ask. Hosting + domain €100-200/year extra. Right tier when the brand is still forming and you just need a 'we exist' presence fast.

Tier 2 · Custom design + webshop · €4,000-€8,000

Figma-led custom design, Next.js / Astro / Shopify Hydrogen build, or WooCommerce custom theme. Typical timeline: 6-10 weeks. Mobile-first, Core Web Vitals green, basic SEO. For webshops: product upload, payment integration (Stripe / Barion / SimplePay), shipping (GLS, MPL, Foxpost). Right tier when you have customers, the brand needs personality, and conversion optimisation matters.

Tier 3 · SaaS-grade product · €8,000-€20,000+

Login, billing, dashboards, an API. Typical timeline: 8-14 weeks for v1. Includes: multi-tenant data model, Stripe Billing, two-factor auth, admin panel, GDPR-readiness (DPIA, retention, export rights). Right tier when you're building SaaS or your customers want a gated, persistent experience.

8 questions to ask before signing

1. What's in scope, what's out? (content upload, copywriting, SEO audit, image licensing)
2. Who hosts and maintains it? (hosting, security patches, framework updates)
3. What do I get at handover? (source code, credentials, docs, IP transfer letter)
4. What if we find bugs after launch? (warranty period, hourly rate after)
5. Mobile + Core Web Vitals targets in writing? (PSI 90+ as a launch gate?)
6. GDPR + cookie consent in scope? (banner, processing notice, DPA)
7. Can I migrate to another vendor without paying you? (export, access, no lock-in)
8. Who owns the source code and the design files?

Realistic timelines

Template: 3-5 weeks. Custom design + static site: 6-10 weeks. Webshop launch: 8-12 weeks. SaaS v1: 8-14 weeks. If someone promises a 'custom' build in 2 weeks, it's a template - and that's not necessarily bad, just know what you're buying.

Common red flags

No discovery call before quoting. No reference projects in the same tier. They want to use a hosting platform that they own (lock-in). They charge for 'GDPR setup' as an add-on (it should be in scope). They won't put SLAs in writing. The first deliverable is a 50-page strategy document instead of a working URL by week 4.

Next steps

If you're not sure which tier fits your goals, book a 30-minute call. We'll review the goals and you'll get a written, no-obligation estimate against all three tiers - and an honest opinion on which one actually fits.