The verdict in three sentences
Migrating from WordPress to a headless Next.js + CMS architecture (Sanity or Strapi) removes plugin bloat, cuts load time and closes most security holes. In 2026, the realistic budget is EUR 12,000 to 35,000 for the migration in Dublin, plus SEO mapping, the CMS licence and edge hosting. The trap to avoid: breaking URLs and losing hard-won rankings.
Why leave WordPress in 2026
WordPress is still powerful, but a growing SME hits three walls: security (vulnerable plugins), performance (PHP + MySQL overhead), maintenance (breaking updates). Headless separates content (CMS) from rendering (Next.js), giving a fast front-end and a reduced attack surface.
| Criterion | Classic WordPress | Headless Next.js + CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Average TTFB | 0.8 – 2 s | 0.1 – 0.3 s (edge) |
| Security surface | High (plugins) | Reduced (isolated CMS) |
| Plugin cost/year | EUR 300 – 1,500 | EUR 0 – 900 (CMS licence) |
| Updates | Manual, breaking | Continuous Git deploy |
| Traffic scalability | Server sizing | Auto (CDN/edge) |
| Front design freedom | Limited to theme | Total (components) |
2026 budget grid (Dublin)
| Line item | 2026 range (EUR) | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Content migration + theme integration | 12,000 – 35,000 | One-off |
| 500-2,000 URL mapping + 301 redirects | 2,000 – 5,000 | One-off |
| CMS licence (Sanity/Strapi Cloud) | 0 – 900 /mo | Monthly |
| Hosting Vercel/cloud | 60 – 400 /mo | Monthly |
| Retainer (application maintenance) | 200 – 700 /mo | Monthly |
| Editor training | 600 – 1,500 | One-off |
Typical timeline: 6 to 10 weeks depending on content volume and template complexity. Sanity suits teams wanting structured content; Strapi appeals to those wanting self-hosting.
Mini case study
Sophie, CIO of a B2B services SME in Dublin, runs an 800-page WordPress bloated with 34 plugins, a 1.4 s TTFB and two security incidents in a year. She budgets a headless migration: EUR 18,000 (migration + theme), EUR 3,500 (URL mapping + 301s), a Sanity licence at EUR 199/month, Vercel hosting at EUR 150/month, a retainer at EUR 400/month. Year-one cost: EUR 21,500 + ~EUR 9,000 recurring. In return, she drops EUR 1,200/year of plugins, cuts incident risk (average incident cost estimated at EUR 8,000) and divides TTFB by five. The project self-funds over 18-24 months through reduced risk and SEO gains.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Will we lose our SEO when migrating?
No if the 301 redirect plan is exhaustive and the Hn/tag structure is preserved. The "URL mapping" line at EUR 2,000-5,000 is precisely what protects acquired traffic. Plan a 90-day monitoring window after cutover.
Sanity or Strapi in 2026?
Sanity (SaaS) needs zero server maintenance and excels at structured multi-channel content; Strapi (self-hosted open-source) offers full control and no licence but requires operating the infrastructure. The choice depends on your technical team.
Can we migrate progressively?
Yes, via a "strangler" strategy: switch section by section behind a reverse proxy, keeping WordPress in the background for not-yet-migrated pages. It lengthens the timeline slightly but lowers risk.
What hosting for Next.js?
Vercel is simplest (Git deploy, edge CDN, ISR) at EUR 60-400/month depending on traffic. A European cloud or VPS suits data-sovereignty needs or cost control at high traffic.
Is the retainer essential?
Strongly recommended. At EUR 200-700/month it covers Next.js version upgrades, monitoring, fixes and small evolutions. Without it, technical debt builds up fast on a modern stack.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of pages to migrate, your target CMS (Sanity/Strapi) and your budget (migration 12-35k). 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.
