The verdict in three sentences
For a London B2B SaaS selling to large EU customers, hosting in the EU with Scaleway or OVHcloud costs EUR 300 to 2,500 per month (about GBP 260 to 2,150) depending on load, multi-zone backups included. Health data in France requires an HDS certified host, adding 30 to 60%, and sensitive public sector buyers may demand SecNumCloud, 2 to 3 times more expensive. Hosting alone is not enough: a clean DPA, a list of sub-processors and documented architecture are what win security questionnaires.
Monthly costs per load tier
Most B2B SaaS products fit into three tiers. The figures below include compute, managed database, object storage, backups in a second zone and monitoring.
| Tier (2026 estimate) | Profile | Reference architecture | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Under 50 customers, 2,000 users | 2 app instances, managed PostgreSQL, object storage | EUR 300 to 600 (GBP 260 to 520) |
| Growth | 50 to 300 customers, 15,000 users | 3-node Kubernetes cluster, HA database, Redis cache | EUR 900 to 1,500 (GBP 775 to 1,290) |
| Enterprise | Over 300 customers, 99.9% SLA | Multi-zone, database replica, WAF, central logging | EUR 1,800 to 2,500 (GBP 1,550 to 2,150) |
| HDS surcharge | Health data (France) | HDS certified host, specific contracts | +30 to 60% |
| SecNumCloud surcharge | Sensitive French public sector | ANSSI qualified offer | x2 to x3 |
| Off-site backups | 30 to 90 day retention | Second region or second provider | EUR 50 to 250 |
US hyperscalers offer EU regions, but remain subject to the CLOUD Act. For a questionnaire that requires immunity from extraterritorial laws, only a European provider or a SecNumCloud offer fully qualifies.
What enterprise buyers actually check
Security questionnaires from banks, insurers and manufacturers often run to 150 to 300 questions. Much of it is solved with documents prepared once.
| Requirement | What to provide | Estimated initial effort |
|---|---|---|
| Data location | Regions used, including backups and logs | 1 day |
| DPA (data processing agreement) | Contract compliant with GDPR Article 28 | 2 to 3 days with a lawyer |
| Sub-processor list | Host, email, support, analytics, with countries | 1 day |
| Encryption | At rest and in transit, key management | 2 to 5 days of implementation |
| Business continuity | Stated RPO and RTO, restore tests | 3 to 5 days |
| Logging and access | Admin access logs kept 1 year, mandatory MFA | 3 to 6 days |
| Penetration testing | Annual third-party report | EUR 6,000 to 15,000 (GBP 5,200 to 12,900) |
An often overlooked point: your ancillary tools. An email or support tool hosted in the US brings back a transfer outside the EU, even if your database sits in Paris. Since Brexit, a UK entity also needs an EU representative under Article 27 GDPR when it targets EU customers without an EU establishment.
Migrating without breaking production
Migrating from a US region to the EU takes 6 to 10 weeks for a mid-sized SaaS. The usual pattern: infrastructure as code (Terraform), continuous database replication, DNS cutover in a 30-minute window, then decommissioning the old environment after 2 weeks of observation.
Mini case study
James, CTO of an HR software SaaS in London, loses three enterprise tenders in France and Germany because his hosting is in the US. Those three contracts represent EUR 180,000 in ARR (about GBP 155,000).
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Migrating to Scaleway costs EUR 28,000 (infrastructure as code, migration, compliance documentation, penetration test). The hosting bill rises from EUR 1,100 to EUR 1,400 per month, an extra EUR 3,600 per year. If just one of the three contracts is signed, EUR 60,000 of ARR, the project pays back in under 6 months.
FAQ
How much does EU SaaS hosting cost in 2026?
Budget EUR 300 to 600 per month at starter stage, EUR 900 to 1,500 in growth and EUR 1,800 to 2,500 for a multi-zone enterprise setup. These amounts include backups and monitoring.
Is AWS or Azure in an EU region enough for GDPR?
It covers data location, but not always customers who exclude the CLOUD Act. In that case, a European host or a SecNumCloud offer, 2 to 3 times more expensive, becomes necessary.
When is HDS hosting mandatory?
When you host health data on behalf of a third party in France, for example for a clinic or a health insurer. The surcharge is 30 to 60% over standard hosting.
How long does a migration to an EU host take?
Usually 6 to 10 weeks, including 1 to 2 weeks of preparation and a 30-minute cutover. Budget EUR 15,000 to 40,000 (GBP 13,000 to 34,500) depending on complexity.
Do enterprise buyers require a penetration test?
Yes, most require one annually. A test by an independent firm costs EUR 6,000 to 15,000 depending on scope.
Let's scope your project. Share your current architecture, customer volume and prospects' requirements for a migration estimate between EUR 15,000 and 40,000 and a 6 to 10 week plan. 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.
