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Last reviewed: September 2026 · prices in USD · every figure computed from the cost-guide pricing engine
The index applies a stated cost-of-doing-business premium to the national baseline—the same baseline every Chicago cost guide references. It works tier by tier: managed and enterprise work absorbs most of it (delivered by local labor), while self-serve tools stay priced nationally and barely budge. All ranges below track the managed-SMB sweet spot per service, drift-adjusted at the monthly refresh.
| Benchmark | Figure | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-business index | +6% | scaled per tier — managed work takes most of it, self-serve tools none |
| Priciest service (SMB) | $2,650–$6,300/mo | Search Everywhere Optimization |
| Cheapest service (SMB) | $150–$650/mo | Agentic Website |
| Largest swing vs national | +$300/mo | Search Everywhere Optimization, top of the SMB range |
| Service | National SMB range | Chicago SMB range | Δ at the top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search Everywhere Optimization | $2,500–$6,000/mo | $2,650–$6,300/mo | +$300/mo |
| Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) | $1,500–$4,000/mo | $1,550–$4,200/mo | +$200/mo |
| Agentic SEO | $300–$3,600/mo | $325–$3,800/mo | +$200/mo |
| AI Agent for Your Business | $300–$2,450/mo | $325–$2,600/mo | +$150/mo |
| Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) | $1,000–$2,500/mo | $1,050–$2,600/mo | +$100/mo |
| Agentic Website | $150–$600/mo | $150–$650/mo | +$50/mo |
Methodology: ranges are synthesized from published 2026 market pricing across vendors, agencies, and platforms, reviewed and refreshed monthly (last refresh: September 2026). Metro figures apply a cost-of-doing-business index (built from 2026 local cost-of-living and labor data) that we scale per price tier: self-serve tools are priced nationally and barely move between cities, while managed and enterprise work — which is delivered by local labor — carries the full local premium. That is why the same city shifts a done-for-you retainer far more than a DIY subscription. Prices are in USD and describe typical market rates, not quotes; a real quote for your business takes minutes through a verified provider on the hashtag.org network.