So you’ve seen the Rs5,000 offers.
Maybe you’ve even tried one. You got a website. Technically. Something live, with your logo on it and a few pages that kind of work.
No admin access. No updates. No SEO. No support. And now you’re wondering why your site’s not bringing in leads or showing up anywhere in Google.
Let’s be honest, WordPress is free. So why should a WordPress website cost anything at all?
The short answer? Because there’s a lot more behind a working website than a free content management system.
Let me walk you through what a real WordPress website costs in Mauritius, not just in rupees, but in time, tools, skills, and sustainability. You’ll see exactly what goes into my own packages, why I price the way I do, and how serious professionals calculate the value of your project.
Spoiler: it’s not just about the homepage looking pretty.
Time isn’t unlimited, and neither is focus
Building a proper website takes time. I’m not talking about slapping together a template in an afternoon. I mean actual planning, design, development, testing, and content preparation.
Even a basic 5-page site takes between 22 and 34 hours of work if you’re doing it properly, from initial consultation and wireframes to SEO setup and launch. And that assumes the content is ready to go.
But here’s the thing most people don’t realise: I don’t work eight hours straight on the same website. No designer or developer does. After a few hours, you hit mental saturation. You start second-guessing layout choices. You make silly mistakes. You burn out.
That’s why I usually work in 3–4 hour creative sprints per project. It gives me space to think, revise, and keep your site sharp.
And if your project takes a month to finish, it’s not because I’m lazy. It’s because I’m juggling content delays, waiting on feedback, prepping other client work, and giving your project the attention it deserves.
So when someone quotes Rs5,000 for a site, they’re either working for Rs150/hour, or not actually doing the work (hint? AI).
Professional tools cost real money
WordPress might be free, but everything that makes it work well is not.
Here’s just a sample of what I pay for annually as part of building and maintaining proper websites:
- Elementor Pro (Agency): $399/year — around Rs18,500
- Rank Math Pro (SEO): $299.88/year — Rs14,000
- Figma: Design wireframes and prototypes — $144/year
- Illustrator and Photoshop: To prep and export vector logos as SVG, cropping, compressing, and exporting images. Both part of Adobe Creative Cloud at $672/year — Rs31,500
- Misc plugins: For forms, backups, multilingual support, security, advanced layouts. Those are about $2,000/year – roughly Rs90,000
- Misc apps: Tools like image converters for .webp formats, staging sync tools, accessibility checkers, and etc, comes to $1200 – Rs56,000
These aren’t optional. They’re the difference between a site that works, and one that just looks like it might.
And I haven’t even factored in project management tools, staging hosting, premium stock images, or CDN storage for fast performance.
You might think, “But don’t those agency licences cover multiple sites?” Yes. But no one in Mauritius has 1000 active clients to spread those costs.
Most solo freelancers are lucky to land 3 to 5 clients a year, and keep 2 or 3 of them long term. So we subsidise the rest of those licences from our own pocket.
UX matters, and it’s invisible until it’s broken
One of the most overlooked parts of web design is user experience. UX is what guides visitors from “I’m curious” to “I trust this” to “I’m buying.”
It’s not a plugin. It’s not a font. It’s about structure, flow, navigation, and psychology. Where the call-to-action goes. Whether the layout makes sense on mobile. Whether your users feel confident in your brand.
This is why I often bring in Xavier Coiffic, a UX/UI expert who understands how users think and behave. On bigger projects, we collaborate closely, he handles user journey mapping and interface design while I focus on performance, WordPress integration, and SEO.
Xavier wrote a great piece on why UX matters here, and if you’re serious about your online presence, it’s worth a read.
The short version? Bad UX kills trust. Kills leads. Kills websites.
Every website is a custom build
Even if I use Elementor or start from a base theme like Kálypto, every project is unique.
I don’t recycle layouts unless they make sense for your content. I don’t force you into a structure that doesn’t suit your business.
That means each project starts with research, discovery, and content planning. It’s not just drag-and-drop. It’s thinking.
And all that thinking time? That’s billable. Not because I’m greedy, but because problem-solving is part of the craft.
Pricing isn’t random, it’s calculated
I don’t pull numbers out of thin air. Here’s how I typically structure my billing:
- 40% deposit to reserve your slot and start planning
- 40% once the design is approved
- 20% on final delivery
That ensures we’re both committed, and it keeps the project moving forward.
Other freelancers might do 50/50. Some split into monthly payments. Some offer subscriptions. There’s no one right way, but I always make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for, and when.
Third-party costs like hosting, domains, or special plugins are always billed separately. No markups. No surprises.
Mauritius isn’t cheap, and neither is freelancing
Living in Mauritius sounds idyllic. Until you realise we’re paying US dollar pricing with a rupee income.
When I buy Elementor Pro for $399, that’s over Rs18,000. When I subscribe to design tools or SEO software, I’m converting every price manually and absorbing the currency difference. And since clients often pay late, or expect free fixes, the buffer just isn’t there.
So when someone asks why a website costs Rs48,000 instead of Rs5,000, here’s the truth:
I’m not charging for WordPress. I’m charging for experience. For tools. For responsiveness. For solving your problem properly the first time.
And if that’s too much, I get it. But don’t expect me to compete with someone who’s working on expired licences and recycled content.
A realistic range of what a website costs
Depending on the scope, here’s a fair breakdown:
- Domain: Rs500–Rs2,865/year
- Hosting: Rs3,990–Rs13,990/year, or Rs7,800/year for carbon-neutral hosting
- Design + Development: Rs25,000 to Rs99,000+
- Maintenance: Rs1,000 to Rs28,000/year depending on support
- SEO: Rs3,500 to Rs48,000 depending on depth
You can also bundle everything under my Web-as-a-Service model for a flat monthly fee, starting at Rs45,000/month. That covers web design, content updates, SEO, hosting, maintenance, everything handled for you, on demand.
It’s not just cost, it’s commitment
A professional WordPress developer in Mauritius isn’t just writing code or pasting in content.
We’re problem-solvers. Planners. Support techs. Designers. Therapists, sometimes.
We think about accessibility. Loading speed. SEO structure. Conversion paths. Client handover. And all the invisible details that make your website work, not just exist.
And we do it with limited hours, inconsistent cashflow, and software priced in a foreign currency.
We do it because we love it. But love doesn’t keep the lights on.
Final thoughts: pay for peace of mind
A proper website won’t cost Rs5,000. And that’s a good thing.
Because you’re not just paying for a page. You’re paying for peace of mind.
For a site that works. For someone who’ll answer the phone six months later.
For content that ranks. For pages that load. For trust, growth, and results.
If you want a clear, honest quote, get in touch. Or explore my packages here.
I’ll show you what’s included, what’s optional, and what’s worth your time. No pressure. No confusion. Just transparency.
When reviewing the WordPress website cost Mauritius freelancers charge, you have to look past the surface.