How much does a website cost in NYC?
With raphy.dev, a landing page is $500, a 2 to 5 page business website is $2,000, a premium custom website is $3,000 and a custom online store is $5,000 with features agreed in writing. Shopify setup is from $1,000. ERP, complex business rules and portals are web app work, from $12,000.
The useful question is what your website needs to do. A page that introduces one service has a different scope from a catalog that takes orders. Start with the visitor's next action, then decide how much content and functionality supports it.
- One actionExplain an offer. Get an inquiry.
- Connected pagesHelp people compare your services.
- A transactionBrowse products. Complete checkout.
What changes the price?
Pages and content
Count the actual page types, not just menu links. A service page reused with different copy is different from a new layout. Decide who supplies the words, photographs and product information before comparing quotes.
Visual direction
A focused page can use a compact design system. Art direction, custom illustrations, elaborate interactions and distinct page layouts add work. Use references to show which parts matter, so the quote covers the intended finish.
Editing and integrations
A contact form, an editable catalog and a booking workflow solve different problems. Specify what the visitor submits, where it goes and who needs to update it. A CMS or another language should be an explicit line in the scope.
Existing website and launch
A rebuild needs an inventory of URLs, content and connected tools. Redirects, domain access, form destinations and launch checks belong in the plan. Tell me what must keep working when the new site replaces the old one.
Builder, freelancer or agency?
Choose by the work you need covered and the responsibility you want to keep. Compare the same brief in each quote.
| Approach | Consider it when | Check before deciding |
|---|---|---|
| Website builder | Consider it when You can assemble the pages and keep the content current yourself. | Check before deciding Templates, subscriptions, paid add-ons and what you can export. |
| Independent developer | Consider it when You want a scoped custom build and direct access to the person doing it. | Check before deciding Design scope, editing, ownership, support and the launch checklist. |
| Agency | Consider it when You need a wider brief covering strategy, content or several disciplines. | Check before deciding Who produces each deliverable, who builds the site and what fees recur. |
What might that scope look like?
Hypothetical examples at my published prices.
A focused service page
A hypothetical local service business needs one clear offer, a short explanation and an inquiry form.
- Keep in scope
- One page, supplied copy and images, one contact destination.
- Watch the boundary
- Booking logic, customer accounts or separate service pages create another scope.
A business with distinct services
A hypothetical business needs a home page, service information, an about page and a contact page.
- Keep in scope
- Connected pages within the published package; final page list in the quote.
- Watch the boundary
- New layouts, extra languages or an editing system need to be specified.
A catalog that accepts orders
A hypothetical brand needs visitors to browse products and complete checkout.
- Keep in scope
- Catalog, inventory, checkout and shipping features agreed in writing.
- Watch the boundary
- Migration is scoped separately. ERP, complex business rules and portals are web app work, from $12,000.
What happens after launch?
Separate the build from keeping it running
Site Care is $99/mo and Care+ is $199/mo. The exact support scope belongs in the agreement. Domain registration, outside tools and any optional subscriptions should be listed separately.
Keep editing practical
A CMS starts at $600. Decide which fields you need to edit and how often. Occasional changes and a daily publishing workflow deserve different setups.
Fix a specific problem first
A Website fix starts at $99. If the real problem is one broken form or a small change, describe that issue before commissioning an entire rebuild.
How to read market prices.
Thumbtack reports a US national average of $1,057 for website development, with a $614 to $1,817 range. Published February 21, 2025; checked October 17, 2026.
Thumbtack website-development cost guide · Checked
Use Thumbtack's website-development cost guide as a broad comparison point. A national benchmark cannot establish the price of your particular NYC project. Check the date, the work included and whether you are comparing a template setup, a custom website or a store.
Compare the same written brief across providers. Ask each one to separate the initial build, optional extras, recurring services and ownership at handoff. My published package prices describe my offer; they are not a citywide average.
See what I build.
Common questions.
What is the lowest website package?
My landing page is $500. It covers one focused page, responsive design and build, a contact form or direct contact link, and page title and search description. The quote confirms the final scope.
Is a business website the same as a web app?
No. A business website primarily presents information and collects inquiries. A web app supports a workflow with accounts, stored data or operational tools. That distinction changes the scope and budget.
Can I use a website builder instead?
Yes. A builder is worth considering when its layouts and features suit the job and you can maintain it. Compare the time you will spend, ongoing subscriptions and any features you would need to add.
Are hosting and future edits included in the build price?
Ongoing care is a separate scope. Site Care is $99/mo and includes hosting for sites I build in code. WordPress needs supported hosting and current plugin licenses paid by you; I review the site and quote cleanup separately before care starts. Updates, backups and small edits follow the published Care limits.
Will a redesign require a completely new site?
Not always. A specific problem may fit a Website fix, from $99. I need to inspect the current site and understand the change before recommending a fix or rebuild.
How do I get a firm price and timeline?
Send me the intended pages, content, connected tools and launch goal. I confirm scope, price and timeline in a fixed quote before work starts. A package price does not promise a delivery date.
Tell me what needs to work.
A useful first message can be short. Include what you know:
- The action you want a visitor to take
- The pages, words and images you already have