Social media costs
What social media management costs in Mumbai
Published retainer bands, what actually moves the number, and the four things most often billed outside the fee. Checked against Mumbai agency rate cards in October 2026.
The bands
Four tiers, and what separates them
The jump between tiers is almost always video. Static content is cheap to make; anything requiring a camera is not.
A Mumbai agency quoting ₹12,000 a month and one quoting ₹1,50,000 are both quoting honestly. They are selling different things, and the gap is production. Ask how many pieces need a camera before comparing any two numbers.
What moves it
Five things that change the quote
In rough order of impact on the final number.
Video volume
The single biggest factor. Four reels a month is a different business from twelve, because each one is scripted, shot, edited and captioned.
Shoots
A shoot day costs money whether it produces four assets or forty, so the planning around it matters more than the day rate.
Platform count
Each platform properly served needs its own format, not a repost. Two done well beats four done once.
Response times
Same-day replies to comments and DMs need someone watching. It is a staffing cost and it is usually invisible in the quote.
Outside the fee
Four things almost always billed separately
None of these are hidden charges. They are simply not usually in the retainer, and a surprising number of businesses find that out in month two.
Typically inside
- Strategy and the monthly calendar
- Copywriting and design
- Scheduling and publishing
- Comments and DM replies
- The monthly report
Typically outside
- Advertising spend, which goes to Meta directly
- Shoot days, studio hire, props and travel
- Models, actors and voice talent
- Influencer and creator fees
- 18% GST
FAQs
Social media pricing: common questions
How much does social media marketing cost per month in Mumbai?
Published rates run from about ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 for basic scheduling on one platform, ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 for a standard package, ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 once reels and community management are included, and ₹50,000 to ₹4,00,000 for full service with production. Ad spend and 18% GST are separate.
How many posts should that include?
Ask, and ask for the mix rather than the count. Twelve posts including four reels is more work and more value than thirty static images. A high post count at a low price almost always means recycled or stock content.
Why do some agencies charge per post?
Because it is easy to quote and easy to compare. It also quietly rewards volume over results, and it prices the strategy, the replies and the reporting at zero. Per-post pricing suits one-off needs, not an ongoing account.
Is ad spend included in the retainer?
Almost never. The fee pays for the work and the ad budget is billed by Meta to you. Media budget commonly runs three to five times the fee, so confirm this before comparing any two quotes.
Do I need a shoot?
If you sell anything physical, almost certainly. One well-planned shoot day can supply a month of content, which makes it cheaper per asset than it first looks. Service businesses can often run on screen recordings, founder video and design instead.
What is the cheapest that is still worth doing?
Around ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 a month on one platform, done properly, with your own photography. Below that you are paying for scheduling, which you could do yourself in an hour a week.
Tell us the volume, we will tell you the number
How many posts, how many reels, how many platforms. That is enough for a real quote.