Building an MVP is the fastest way to validate a product idea, but costs vary wildly — from $15K for a simple web app to $150K+ for a complex AI-powered platform. Here's what to actually budget in 2026.
MVP Cost by Platform and Complexity
Simple web MVP (landing page + core feature + auth): $15K–$30K. Mobile MVP (iOS or Android): $25K–$50K. SaaS MVP (multi-tenant, billing, dashboard): $40K–$80K. AI-powered MVP (LLM integration, data pipeline): $50K–$120K. Timeline: 8–16 weeks depending on scope.
In-House vs Offshore MVP Teams
A US-based 3-person team (designer + 2 engineers) costs roughly $60K–$90K/month fully loaded. The same team in Vietnam costs $20K–$35K/month with equivalent technical quality. For MVP development specifically, offshore teams often deliver faster because they can dedicate full-time resources without competing priorities.
How to Maximize Your MVP Budget
Focus on one killer feature, not ten mediocre ones. Use proven tech stacks (Next.js + PostgreSQL) over bleeding-edge frameworks. Ship weekly — every feature should be demoable within 5 business days. Cut admin panels from V1 — use direct database access until you have product-market fit.
Next step
Need a realistic MVP budget before you raise or commit? Book a free 30-minute call with a senior engineer to map your must-have features to a week-by-week plan and a fixed price; you get a written fixed-scope proposal within 3 business days.
Senior engineers in Vietnam, a clearly defined scope, and a written proposal within 3 business days.
10 years of experience working with Japanese companies — two of those years based in Japan. Has run the business since 2018 (as NKKTech since 2025) with a senior-only engineering model.