The verdict in three sentences
A headless CMS separates content (Sanity, Strapi) from presentation (Next.js), making the site faster, safer and more durable than a monolithic, plugin-heavy WordPress. The migration costs S$12,000-26,000 in 2026 for an SME and wraps in 6-10 weeks, editor training included. The payoff shows on three axes: performance (LCP -40 to -60 %), security (reduced attack surface) and maintenance cost cut in half.
What the migration costs in 2026
Budget depends on page count, content volume to migrate and integrations (forms, CRM, e-commerce). Here are 2026 ballpark figures for a Singapore SME.
| Line item | Range 2026 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping + design system | S$2,200-5,000 | Mockups, tokens, components |
| Next.js development | S$5,000-11,500 | Front-end, pages, technical SEO |
| Headless CMS setup | S$2,200-5,000 | Sanity/Strapi, schemas, roles |
| Content migration | S$1,500-3,600 | Scripts + manual cleanup |
| Editor training | S$700-1,700 | 1-2 sessions |
| Project total | S$12,000-26,000 | 6-10 weeks |
Add hosting: budget S$30-90/month on Vercel (Pro) or S$20-55/month on a regional provider for a moderate-traffic B2B brochure site.
Performance gains: before / after
The main business argument is measurable. On a heavy WordPress you often start from a mobile LCP > 4 s. After migrating to SSG/edge, you target < 2 s.
| Metric | WordPress (before) | Headless Next.js (after) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile LCP | 4.2 s | 1.6 s |
| INP | 380 ms | 140 ms |
| Average page weight | 3.1 MB | 850 KB |
| Lighthouse perf score | 42/100 | 94/100 |
| Annual maintenance | S$3,200 | S$1,500 |
| Security incidents/year | 3-5 | 0-1 |
An LCP moving from 4.2 s to 1.6 s improves mobile experience and, on e-commerce/B2B sites, often translates into +5 to +15 % conversion.
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Mini case study
Wei Ling, digital lead at a software vendor in Singapore, runs a 60-page WordPress with 28 plugins. Maintenance: S$3,200/year, plus two security incidents in 2025. Headless migration quote (Next.js + Sanity): S$18,000, 8-week timeline. After migration, maintenance drops to S$1,500/year (-S$1,700) and LCP falls from 4.3 s to 1.5 s. The site generates 140 demo requests/year; a 10 % conversion lift adds 14 demos, of which 3 become clients at S$6,000 annual contracts, i.e. +S$18,000/year. The migration pays back in under 12 months.
FAQ
Do you lose content and SEO when migrating? No, if content migration and the 301 redirect plan are done cleanly. You keep URLs, tags and structure; Google rankings are usually stable or improved thanks to performance.
Sanity or Strapi: which to choose? Sanity (cloud, real-time, managed hosting) suits teams wanting zero servers to run; Strapi (open source, self-hostable) suits those wanting full data control. Project cost is comparable.
Will my editors cope? Yes: a modern headless CMS offers a clean editing interface, often simpler than an overloaded WordPress admin. Budget 1-2 training sessions (S$700-1,700).
What does hosting cost after migration? Between S$20 and S$90/month depending on platform (Vercel, regional) and traffic, often less than performant WordPress hosting with CDN and security.
How long does migration take? 6-10 weeks for an SME, depending on page count and integrations. Most of the timeline goes to the design system and content migration.
Let's scope your project. Share your page count, critical plugins and budget (S$12,000-26,000): we cost the migration, the expected Core Web Vitals gains and the content migration 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.
