The verdict in three sentences
Migrating an enterprise WordPress to a headless architecture (Next.js + headless CMS) costs between 15,000 and 40,000 EUR (roughly 17,000-45,000 USD) in London in 2026, depending on content volume and functional complexity. The return doesn't come from design but from three-year TCO: fewer vulnerabilities, fewer plugins to patch, predictable hosting and Core Web Vitals that stay green. Budget 8 to 14 weeks for the project and 2,000 to 6,000 EUR for content migration depending on page count.
What the budget actually covers
A serious migration is not a re-theme. It decouples the front end (static/incremental React rendering) from the back end (a headless CMS such as Sanity, Strapi or Directus), rebuilds the templates, and protects SEO (301 redirects, URL structure, tags). Here is the typical breakdown for a 2026 London project.
| Line item | Range EUR | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Technical audit + content mapping | 1,500 - 3,500 | 1 week |
| Headless CMS setup + content models | 2,500 - 6,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| Next.js front-end build (templates) | 8,000 - 20,000 | 3-6 weeks |
| Content migration (200-800 pages) | 2,000 - 6,000 | 1-3 weeks |
| 301 redirects + SEO carryover | 1,000 - 2,500 | 1 week |
| QA, performance, go-live | 1,500 - 4,000 | 1-2 weeks |
These figures are a 2026 order of magnitude; a high-volume editorial B2B site (blog, resources, multilingual) pushes to the top, a 30-page corporate site to the bottom.
WordPress vs headless: the 3-year TCO comparison
WordPress has a lower acquisition cost, but the gap closes from year two once security, maintenance and performance are counted.
| Criterion | Classic WordPress | Headless (Next.js) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 8,000 - 18,000 EUR | 15,000 - 40,000 EUR |
| Hosting / month | 40 - 150 EUR | 50 - 250 EUR (Vercel/Scaleway) |
| Maintenance / year | 3,000 - 8,000 EUR | 1,500 - 4,000 EUR |
| Attack surface | High (plugins, PHP) | Low (static front) |
| Median LCP | 2.8 - 4.5 s | 0.9 - 1.8 s |
| 3-year TCO (estimate) | 25,000 - 45,000 EUR | 24,000 - 52,000 EUR |
TCO converges, but the headless column buys security and speed that WordPress can't deliver without ongoing spend. On a lead-generating site, every 100 ms of LCP saved matters.
Mini case study
Thomas, CTO of an industrial SME in London, runs a 420-page WordPress with 27 plugins. Annual maintenance hits 6,800 EUR and two security incidents cost him 4,000 EUR in 2025. He migrates to Next.js + Sanity for 28,000 EUR, content migration included. New maintenance: 2,400 EUR/year. Annual saving: 4,400 EUR excluding incidents. The investment pays back in ~4.7 years on maintenance alone, but within the first year once you count avoided security risk and the conversion lift from an LCP dropping from 3.6 s to 1.3 s (often +5 to +12% leads on a B2B site).
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
How much is content migration?
Between 2,000 and 6,000 EUR depending on volume: roughly 10-25 EUR per page for a semi-automated migration, more with heavy rich formatting.
Do you lose SEO when migrating?
No, if the 301 redirect plan is complete and the URL structure preserved: a 1,000-2,500 EUR budget covers this and avoids a traffic drop.
What hosting for headless?
Vercel or Scaleway between 50 and 250 EUR/month by traffic; a mid-traffic B2B site often stays under 120 EUR/month.
How long does the project take?
From 8 to 14 weeks; a 30-page corporate fits in 8, a multilingual editorial site goes to 14.
Can we keep WordPress as the back office?
Yes, in headless mode (WordPress as an API): it's 20 to 30% cheaper than a full CMS switch, useful if your editors are attached to it.
Let's scope your project. Give us your page count, languages and current CMS and we'll price the migration. 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.
