The verdict in three sentences
A WordPress to Next.js migration for a corporate site costs between 16,000 and 40,000 CAD in 2026, depending on content volume and integrations. In return: a roughly 3x performance gain, a reduced attack surface, a headless Sanity CMS and lighter maintenance. Expect 8 to 12 weeks of project time, with Vercel hosting at 30 to 200 CAD/month.
WordPress vs Jamstack: total cost over 3 years
The migration price should not be judged alone but against total cost of ownership. Here is an indicative 2026 comparison for a mid-audience corporate site.
| Line item | WordPress (3 yrs) | Next.js + Sanity (3 yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | 4,000 - 8,000 CAD | 1,000 - 7,200 CAD |
| Maintenance and updates | 12,000 - 24,000 CAD | 4,800 - 12,000 CAD |
| Security and patching | 5,500 - 13,000 CAD | 1,300 - 4,000 CAD |
| Plugins and licenses | 2,000 - 5,500 CAD | 0 - 2,400 CAD |
| Incidents and downtime | 4,000 - 11,000 CAD | 700 - 2,700 CAD |
| Total 3-year cost | 27,500 - 61,500 CAD | 7,800 - 28,300 CAD |
The migration often pays back by the second year through lower maintenance and fewer incidents.
Where the migration budget goes
Where does the upfront investment actually land? Here are the main line items of a headless migration.
| Line item | Detail | Range (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Next.js architecture and setup | App Router, TypeScript | 3,300 - 6,700 |
| Sanity CMS integration | Schemas, editorial workflow | 4,000 - 9,300 |
| Content migration | Import and mapping | 2,700 - 8,000 |
| Front-end and design build | Components, responsive | 4,000 - 10,700 |
| SEO and 301 redirects | Ranking preservation | 1,300 - 4,000 |
| QA and go-live | Testing, Vercel deploy | 1,100 - 2,700 |
Mini case study
David, IT director at a Toronto industrial group, runs a 400-page WordPress slowed by 32 plugins and hit by two intrusion attempts in a year. He launches a Next.js + Sanity migration at 29,000 CAD over 10 weeks. Load time drops from 3.9 s to 1.2 s, annual maintenance falls from 9,500 to 3,700 CAD and security incidents vanish. Over three years, cumulative savings approach 24,000 CAD, before counting the conversion gain from speed.
FAQ
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How long does a headless migration take?
Expect 8 to 12 weeks for a mid-sized corporate site, depending on content volume and third-party integrations (CRM, ERP, forms).
Is WordPress content lost?
No. Content is migrated and remapped into the Sanity CMS. Editorial history is preserved and 301 redirects are set up to protect SEO.
Will editors have to relearn everything?
Sanity offers a modern interface with an approval workflow. A half-day of training is usually enough for editorial teams.
Is Next.js really more secure?
Static rendering and no exposed database drastically reduce the attack surface compared to a WordPress packed with third-party plugins.
What hosting should we plan for?
Vercel at 30 to 200 CAD/month depending on traffic, or a comparable alternative. No server to administer, automatic scaling.
Let's scope your project. Give us your page count, integrations and governance constraints, and we will price the Next.js + Sanity migration with an SEO preservation 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.
