The verdict in three sentences
A custom web app in Abidjan costs, in 2026, between 4,000,000 FCFA (a tight MVP) and 15,000,000 FCFA (a full business platform). The smart move is to ship an MVP in 8 to 12 weeks to validate usage before investing in the V1. Then budget 5 to 15 % of the project cost per year for maintenance, plus hosting, to keep the app reliable and evolving.
What drives the price: MVP vs V1 modules
Price depends less on the number of screens than on business-rule complexity, integrations (payment, SMS, ERP) and security requirements. An MVP focuses on the core value; the V1 adds convenience and scale modules.
| Module | MVP (8-12 wks) | Full V1 |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication + roles | 400,000 FCFA | 900,000 FCFA |
| Core business workflow | 1,500,000 FCFA | 3,500,000 FCFA |
| Dashboard & reporting | 600,000 FCFA | 1,800,000 FCFA |
| Wave/OM payment integration | 700,000 FCFA | 1,200,000 FCFA |
| SMS/e-mail notifications | 300,000 FCFA | 700,000 FCFA |
| Mobile app (PWA) | included (web) | 2,000,000 FCFA |
| Indicative total | 4,000,000 FCFA | 12,000,000 - 15,000,000 FCFA |
*2026 order of magnitude, excluding very specific cases (AI, real-time, advanced mapping).*
Cost allocation and recurring fees
On a custom project, value concentrates in design and development. Anticipating recurring costs avoids nasty surprises after go-live.
| Line item | Share of budget | Amount on an 8,000,000 FCFA project |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping & UX/UI | 15 % | 1,200,000 FCFA |
| Development | 55 % | 4,400,000 FCFA |
| Integrations & testing | 20 % | 1,600,000 FCFA |
| Project management | 10 % | 800,000 FCFA |
| Hosting (per year) | recurring | 60,000 - 250,000 FCFA |
| Maintenance (per year) | 5-15 % | 400,000 - 1,200,000 FCFA |
Hosting varies with traffic and uptime needs: an SMB with a few hundred internal users stays under 100,000 FCFA/year, while a high-traffic public app climbs toward 250,000 FCFA/year.
Mini case study
Kouassi runs a distribution company in Abidjan (Treichville) with 22 field sales reps. Paper-based order entry causes errors and 3 days of data entry per week. He orders an MVP at 4,500,000 FCFA: mobile order capture, real-time validation, stock dashboard.
Calculation: two half-time data-entry assistants freed up, about 300,000 FCFA/month saved, plus an estimated 150,000 FCFA/month cut in invoicing errors. Annual gain: 5,400,000 FCFA. The investment pays back in under 11 months, maintenance included.
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FAQ
What does an MVP really cost in Abidjan in 2026?
A serious MVP starts around 4,000,000 FCFA and rarely exceeds 6,000,000 FCFA. Below that, you are looking at a prototype or a no-code solution, useful for testing but not for durable business use.
How long to deliver?
Expect 8 to 12 weeks for an MVP and 4 to 6 months for a full V1. The limiting factor is often your team's availability to validate mockups and supply business rules.
Do I need a native mobile app?
In 80 % of cases a PWA (installable web app) is enough and far cheaper. Native is only justified for advanced needs: critical push notifications, sensors, fully offline use.
What costs come after delivery?
Hosting (60,000 to 250,000 FCFA/year) and maintenance (5 to 15 % of the project/year). Maintenance covers fixes, security updates and small enhancements.
Can payment be staged?
Yes: most agencies bill by milestones (scoping, MVP, V1). It is also good risk management for you, since each milestone is a verifiable deliverable.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your business process, indicative budget (MVP or V1) and target timeline. 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.
