The short answer: the typical social media marketing cost in India is roughly ₹15,000 to ₹75,000 a month for most small and mid-sized businesses, paid to an agency or freelancer for content, posting and community management. Ad spend paid to Meta is extra, and so is GST. Where you land in that range depends on four things: how many platforms, how much of the content is video, whether anyone manages paid ads, and whether the content is shot for you or designed from stock. Below that range you are usually buying scheduled templates. Above it, you are buying a production team.
This guide gives you the ranges, what each one actually buys, and how to tell whether a quote is fair. It also covers the costs most price guides leave out: GST, ad spend, regional-language content and lock-in contracts. We also publish our own prices, so you have one fixed number to compare quotes against.
Social media marketing cost in India: the price bands
The ranges below are what Indian agencies and freelancers publish for 2026, grouped by what the money buys. They are monthly management fees and do not include ad spend.
| Monthly fee | What it usually covers | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Under ₹10,000 | Templated graphics on a posting schedule, one or two platforms, few or no Reels, little or no reply handling. | A business that just needs the page to look alive. |
| ₹15,000 to ₹35,000 | Two or three platforms, 12 to 20 custom posts, some Reels, comments and DMs handled, a monthly report. | Single-location shops, clinics, restaurants, local services. |
| ₹35,000 to ₹75,000 | More video, a content shoot, Meta Ads management, a monthly plan tied to offers and seasons, weekly reporting. | Businesses growing city-wide or running regular paid campaigns. |
| ₹75,000 and above | A small team: strategist, designers, video editor, ad specialist, influencer coordination, multiple locations or brands. | Established brands and multi-location businesses. |
The biggest jump in real value is between the first two rows. At the bottom of the market, nobody is paid to think about your business, only to fill a calendar.
What we charge, so you have a fixed point
Most agencies only give a price after a call. We publish ours on the social media marketing page, all month to month with no lock-in:
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ₹20,000 / month | 2 platforms, 12 posts a month, community management, monthly analytics, Telugu and English content. |
| Professional | ₹35,000 / month | 3 platforms, 20 posts a month, stories and Reels, premium graphics and video, Meta Ads management, weekly reports. |
| Enterprise | ₹60,000 / month | All platforms, professional video production, influencer partnerships, advanced analytics, a dedicated manager. |
Meta Ads budget is separate on every plan. When a client wants paid reach, we usually suggest starting with ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 a month in ad spend. That is enough to learn which audience and creative work before you spend more.
The fee is not your budget: the three costs you actually pay
Most price guides quote one number. Your bank statement will show three.
1. The management fee
This is what the agency or freelancer charges for strategy, content, posting, replies and reporting. It is the number on the quote.
2. Ad spend
This money goes to Meta (or Google, or LinkedIn), not to the agency. You should pay it on your own card or through your own ad account. If an agency asks you to send ad money to them first, ask why, and check that you can see the ad account yourself.
3. GST
Marketing services are taxed at 18% GST in India. A GST-registered agency will add it to the fee unless the quote says "inclusive". Meta also charges 18% GST on ad spend billed in India. If your business is GST-registered, add your GSTIN to the payment settings in Meta's billing and you can usually claim that tax back as input credit. Check this with your accountant.
Here is how a ₹30,000 quote that excludes GST turns into a real monthly budget:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Agency fee | ₹30,000 |
| GST on the fee (18%) | ₹5,400 |
| Meta ad spend | ₹15,000 |
| GST on ad spend (18%) | ₹2,700 |
| What leaves your account | ₹53,100 |
So ask every agency the same question: "Is this inclusive of GST, and does it include any ad spend?" Two quotes that look ₹10,000 apart can come out the same once both are answered.
How do you compare two social media marketing quotes?
Quotes are hard to compare because every agency packages things differently. Convert each one to the same units before you decide.
- Count the deliverables. How many posts, how many of them Reels, how many stories, on how many platforms? Get it in writing.
- Work out the cost per piece. Divide the fee by the number of posts. Our Starter plan is ₹20,000 for 12 posts, about ₹1,670 per post with replies and a report included. A ₹12,000 package with 30 posts is ₹400 a post. At that price, nobody is designing for your business.
- Ask who makes the video. A Reel shot and edited for you costs far more than a slideshow of stock clips with music. Many packages say "Reels" and mean the second.
- Ask who replies. Comments and DMs are where enquiries arrive. If replies are not in the scope, you are paying for reach and doing the selling yourself.
- Ask what the report measures. Followers and likes are easy to report. Enquiries, calls and WhatsApp messages are the numbers that pay for the work. A good agency agrees the measure with you in the first month.
Why a ₹5,000 package is rarely what it looks like
You will find social media packages in India advertised at ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 a month. Some are honest offers for a very small scope. But at that price the maths only works if most of these are true:
- Designs come from a template library and are reused across clients with the logo swapped.
- Posts are scheduled in bulk once a month, and nobody watches what happens to them.
- There are no Reels, or the "Reels" are animated images.
- Comments and messages go unanswered, so the leads the posts create go cold.
- The report counts impressions and followers, never enquiries.
A page that looks alive is worth something. If that is what you need, a cheap package is fine. Just don't buy one expecting it to bring in customers.
What makes social media marketing cost more
Video and Reels
Video is the largest driver of cost, and on Instagram it is also what reaches new people. Instagram's own guidance on Reels puts heavy weight on watch time and original content, which means scripting, shooting and editing rather than reposting. That is labour. Our guide to getting reach on Instagram Reels explains what the algorithm rewards.
Number of platforms
Each platform needs its own format, captions and reply handling. Adding a third platform is not "posting the same thing one more time". LinkedIn in particular needs different writing from Instagram.
Content shoots
Photos and video of your actual shop, staff, food or site perform better than stock, and cost more because someone has to be there. On our Professional and Enterprise plans we include monthly shoots in Hyderabad and Warangal.
Paid ads management
Setting up campaigns, audiences, creatives and weekly optimisation is a separate skill from posting. Some agencies charge it as a percentage of ad spend. Others include it in a higher tier, which is what we do from Professional up.
Language
Bilingual content is two sets of captions, subtitles and ad copy, not one. Some agencies charge regional languages as an add-on.
Does Telugu or Hindi content cost extra?
It depends on the agency. Many national agencies write in English only and bring in a translator for regional content, which adds cost and usually shows in the quality. For a business whose customers are in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh, Telugu is often the difference between content people scroll past and content they share. We write Telugu and English on every plan at no extra charge, because we mostly work with businesses whose customers speak Telugu.
Whoever you hire, ask to see regional-language posts they have already published. A translation of an English caption reads like one.
Freelancer, agency or in-house: which is cheaper?
On the monthly fee alone, a freelancer is usually cheapest, an agency is in the middle, and an in-house hire costs the most once you add salary, tools and management time. The real question is what you lose at each price.
- A freelancer suits one or two platforms and a clear brief. The risk is a single point of failure: when they are sick, busy or gone, your page goes quiet.
- An agency gives you design, video and ads skills that one person rarely has. The risk is being passed to a junior after the sales call. Ask who will actually run your account.
- An in-house person makes sense when you post daily, need someone on location, or run social as a main sales channel. They still usually need outside help for video and ads.
Contract terms that cost more than the fee
The monthly price matters less than these four clauses:
- Lock-in. Some agencies ask for a three-, six- or twelve-month minimum. A lock-in means the agency does not have to earn your renewal each month. If you do sign one, make sure there is an exit clause if agreed deliverables are missed.
- Who owns the accounts. Your Facebook page, Instagram account and Meta ad account should sit in your Meta Business portfolio, with the agency added as a partner. If the agency owns the ad account, you lose its history and audiences when you leave.
- Who owns the content. Designs, raw footage and templates made for you should be yours. Get that in writing before the first shoot.
- Notice period. Thirty days is reasonable. Anything longer is a lock-in by another name.
All our plans run month to month, with no lock-in.
How much should a small business budget?
For a local business starting out, a sensible first three months looks like this:
- Month 1: an entry plan of two platforms with 12 to 16 posts and replies handled. Record your starting numbers: followers, profile visits, and above all enquiries.
- Months 2 to 3: add a small Meta Ads test of ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 a month on the posts that did best organically.
- After month 3: compare enquiries against the total spend (fee plus ads plus GST). If social media is producing customers at a cost you can live with, move up a tier. If not, find out why before spending more.
Paid reach usually shows results within weeks. Organic growth usually takes a few months to become meaningful. Be wary of any agency that promises a follower count or a percentage increase before it has seen your account.
Social media also works harder when it has somewhere to send people. A slow website or an empty Google Business Profile wastes clicks you paid for. That is why many clients pair it with local SEO or a fast business website with WhatsApp enquiry buttons.
Frequently asked questions
How much does social media marketing cost per month in India?
Most small and mid-sized businesses pay between ₹15,000 and ₹75,000 a month for professional management, before ad spend and GST. Packages under ₹10,000 exist but rarely include video or reply handling. Our plans are ₹20,000, ₹35,000 and ₹60,000 a month.
Is ad spend included in social media marketing packages?
Usually not. The package covers the agency's work. Money for boosted posts and ads goes to Meta separately, ideally on your own card and in your own ad account. For a first paid test, ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 a month is a reasonable starting budget.
Is GST charged on social media marketing in India?
Yes. Marketing services attract 18% GST, which a registered agency adds to its fee unless the quote says it is inclusive. Meta also adds 18% GST to ad spend billed in India. GST-registered businesses can usually claim both back as input tax credit.
How much does Instagram management alone cost?
Single-platform Instagram management usually costs a little less than a two-platform package. Most of the cost is content creation, and Reels are the expensive part, so a video-heavy Instagram plan can cost more than a basic multi-platform one.
Can I pay per post instead of a monthly package?
Some freelancers and agencies sell per post, which works for occasional campaigns. For ongoing marketing, a monthly plan is usually cheaper per piece. It also covers replies, reporting and planning, which per-post pricing leaves out.
Is there a lock-in contract?
That depends on the agency, and it is worth asking before you compare prices. Our plans are month to month and can be cancelled at any time.
Get a quote you can compare
If you are weighing up quotes, use the questions above on every one, including ours. Or book a free consultation: we audit your current pages and draft a content plan for your business and city. See the social media marketing plans, or message us on WhatsApp at +91 86885 48048.
We work with businesses across Hyderabad, Warangal, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, and remotely across India.
