The verdict in three sentences
A custom RAG AI chatbot (connected to your knowledge base) costs 15,000 to 50,000 EUR in 2026 and ships in 5 to 10 weeks. LLM running cost sits around 0.002 to 0.02 EUR per request, meaning a few tens to hundreds of euros per month. Well scoped, it absorbs 30 to 50% of tier-1 tickets, with maintenance of 400 to 1,000 EUR/month.
What drives the price
Cost depends on knowledge-base quality, number of channels and required guardrails. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Line item | Cost (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping + RAG base prep | 3,000 - 8,000 | 1 - 2 wks |
| RAG engine + LLM integration | 5,000 - 15,000 | 2 - 4 wks |
| CRM / ticketing connection | 2,500 - 8,000 | 1 - 2 wks |
| Widget + channels (web, WhatsApp) | 2,500 - 9,000 | 1 - 3 wks |
| Guardrails, testing, GDPR | 2,000 - 10,000 | 1 - 3 wks |
A full multichannel project generally lands between 15,000 and 50,000 EUR.
SaaS solution or custom chatbot
A SaaS launches in days but bills per conversation and handles business rules poorly. Custom costs more upfront but controls per-request cost and integration.
| Criterion | SaaS chatbot | Custom chatbot (RAG) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 0 - 5,000 EUR | 15,000 - 50,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost | 0.05 - 0.50 EUR/conversation | 0.002 - 0.02 EUR/request + maintenance |
| Prompt / rule control | Limited | Full |
| SI integration | Standard | Custom |
| Data sovereignty | Variable | EU hosting of choice |
| Ideal case | Low volume, simple FAQ | High volume, rich knowledge base |
Beyond a few thousand conversations per month, custom becomes markedly cheaper.
Mini case study
Sarah, customer service director of a London e-commerce firm, handles 4,000 tickets a month, 55% of which are tier-1 questions (order tracking, returns, availability). She invests 34,000 EUR in a RAG chatbot connected to her knowledge base and CRM. The bot resolves 40% of tickets, i.e. 1,600 conversations a month at 0.01 EUR each (16 EUR of LLM). She saves the equivalent of 1.3 FTE of support, and payback lands in about 8 months.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
How much does a custom AI chatbot cost in 2026?
Between 15,000 and 50,000 EUR depending on channels and RAG base richness. A single-channel pilot can start around 12,000 EUR.
What is the LLM running cost?
0.002 to 0.02 EUR per request depending on the model. For 1,600 requests/month, LLM cost stays under 40 EUR, excluding maintenance.
What ticket reduction can we expect?
30 to 50% of tier-1 tickets depending on knowledge-base quality. Well fed, the bot often exceeds 40%.
How is GDPR compliance ensured?
European hosting, data minimisation, logging, and anti-hallucination guardrails with source citation. No sensitive data is sent without control.
Is maintenance required?
Yes, 400 to 1,000 EUR/month to keep the base current, monitor answers and tune guardrails. This is the key to lasting quality.
Let's scope your project. Share your ticket volume, your channels (web, WhatsApp) and your knowledge base, and we'll price the RAG, CRM integration and maintenance. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
