Why you cannot get a straight answer

Ask three providers what social media management costs and you will get three vague replies, because “social media” covers everything from a student posting twice a week to a team running paid campaigns across five channels. The honest answer depends on what is actually being made and managed.

Below are realistic ranges across Europe in 2026, what moves the price, and how to decide what you need—so you can judge a quote instead of guessing.

The three ways it is priced

A freelancer or student typically charges €200–€600 a month for scheduling and a few posts. It is affordable, but you are usually buying activity, not strategy or production.

A small agency or studio typically charges €450–€2,500 a month depending on how much original content, video and reporting is included. This is where most owner-led businesses land.

A large agency or a full in-house hire runs from €3,000 a month or a full salary upward. That is for businesses where social is a serious revenue channel, not a supporting one.

What actually drives the price

Original production is the biggest factor. Reposting stock and screenshots is cheap; sending someone to photograph and film your real business every month is not, and it is also the thing that works.

Then: how many posts and short videos per month, whether replies and community management are included, whether there is a real content plan or just filler, and whether you get reporting that tells you what changed. Advertising budget, if you run ads, is always separate and paid to the platform.

A concrete example

For reference, our own published tiers run from €450 a month for steady upkeep—a few posts, one short video, listing upkeep and a quarterly review—to €2,250 a month for a monthly shoot, more video and community support. We publish them in full so you can decide whether we are affordable before any conversation.

Use that as a yardstick, not a rule. The right number is the smallest package that reliably produces content worth publishing for your business.

How to decide what you need

Start from the outcome, not the post count. If you need to look consistently present and current, steady upkeep is enough. If social is meant to bring in bookings, you need real production and probably some paid promotion, which costs more.

Be wary of very cheap monthly fees: they almost always mean no original content, which is the part that actually moves anything. Ask any provider to show you exactly what they will make each month, and what is not included.