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Social Media Marketing Cost in India
Written by Chayan Sarkar, founder of Boost It Junior
Going by what Indian agencies and freelancers publish, social media marketing usually costs between ₹15,000 and ₹50,000 a month for a small business with a freelancer or a basic package, ₹30,000 to ₹1,50,000 for a growing brand with a specialist agency, and ₹1,00,000 or more for full-service work. Ad spend is almost always extra.
Here is what drives those numbers, and what you should expect for the money.
Social Media Marketing Cost Per Month In India
Prices vary because the work varies. A package that schedules a few designed posts a month is a different service from one that plans a strategy, shoots reels, replies to every comment and runs paid campaigns.
The table further down groups the published prices into the tiers you will usually be quoted, as of October 2026. They are indicative industry ranges, not our prices, and they cover management only: the money you spend on ads is a separate budget.
What Sets The Price
Platforms. Instagram and Facebook together cost less to run than Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Volume and format. Reels and short videos take longer to plan, shoot and edit than static posts, so they cost more.
Who creates the content. Using your own photos is cheaper than organising shoots, models or creator collaborations.
Community management. Replying to comments and messages every day is ongoing work and is often priced separately.
Paid campaigns. Managing Meta ads adds a management fee on top of the ad budget itself.
Strategy and reporting. Monthly planning, competitor tracking and reporting tied to enquiries take senior time.
What A Package Should Include
At minimum: a monthly content calendar, designed posts with captions, publishing, and a simple monthly report. Better packages add strategy, reels, community management and ad support.
Before you sign, ask how many posts and reels are included each month, how many rounds of changes you get, who writes and designs the content, and who owns the accounts and files if you leave. Your pages should always stay in your name.
Ad Spend Is A Separate Budget
Agency fees pay for managing your social media and campaigns, not for the advertising itself. The money Meta charges for showing your ads is paid on top, usually straight from your own ad account.
Ask whether the management fee is flat or a percentage of ad spend, and set the ad budget according to what an enquiry is worth to you, not what’s left over.
Freelancer, Agency Or In-House?
A freelancer can be good value for a local business with modest needs, as long as they can design, write and post consistently.
A specialist agency gives you strategy, design, video and ads under one roof, which suits growing brands.
An in-house person makes sense once social media is central to your sales and you need someone available every day.
Red Flags In Cheap Social Media Packages
Bought followers or likes. They inflate numbers, reach nobody useful and can damage how platforms show your content.
Guaranteed follower counts. Nobody controls the algorithm.
Only stock templates. Generic designs make you look like everyone else.
Reports with no business results. Likes and reach are fine, but you should also see enquiries, messages or sales.
The agency owns your page. If it’s in their name, you may struggle to get it back.
| Tier | Usually suits | Typical monthly range |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer or solo manager | Local businesses and personal brands with modest needs | ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 |
| Basic small-business package | Small startups and local brands; around 8 to 12 posts a month | ₹15,000 to ₹40,000 |
| Growth package or specialist agency | Growing D2C and service brands; strategy, reels and ad support | ₹30,000 to ₹1,50,000 |
| Full-service agency | Established brands; full content, campaigns, paid media, analytics | ₹1,00,000 to ₹5,00,000+ |
The Bottom Line
Social media marketing in India can cost from around ₹15,000 to well over ₹1,00,000 a month, plus ad spend. The right price depends on how many platforms you need, how much video you want and whether you need ads and daily community management. Compare packages on what’s included, keep your accounts in your name, and judge the work by enquiries, not likes.
Boost It Junior runs social media for brands in Kolkata as part of an SEO-led growth plan. See our social media marketing in Kolkata page.
FAQ
Questions before we cook.
Going by published industry ranges, roughly ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 a month for a small business, ₹30,000 to ₹1,50,000 for a growing brand and ₹1,00,000 or more for full-service work. Ad spend is extra.
Usually not. Agency fees cover management. The money you spend on ads is a separate budget, normally paid from your own ad account.
Many basic packages include around 8 to 12 posts a month. Posting consistently, with content your customers actually care about, matters more than volume.
Often, yes, for a local business with modest needs. An agency costs more but usually adds strategy, video and ads management.
At least a content calendar, designed posts with captions, publishing and a monthly report. Ask how many posts and reels are included and who owns the accounts.
Want a social media plan that brings enquiries?