Most cost content gives you ranges without industry context. A “simple MVP” in fintech and a “simple MVP” in a content app are not the same build — compliance, security, and integration requirements vary enormously by vertical. Here’s real budget data across 7 different industries, with what was actually included at each price point.

Fintech / payments MVP: ₹18–32 lakh

The compliance layer alone (KYC integration, transaction logging, RBI-adjacent data handling practices even for non-regulated products) adds 30–40% over an equivalent non-financial app. Included at this range: user onboarding with KYC, wallet or payment tracking, transaction history, basic fraud flagging, and admin oversight tooling. Timeline: 18–24 weeks, longer than most verticals due to compliance review cycles.

Healthtech / telemedicine MVP: ₹14–24 lakh

Data privacy handling for health information drives cost even before HIPAA-equivalent formal certification is pursued — the architecture needs to be built for it from day one, which is more expensive to retrofit later than to build correctly upfront. Included: patient registration, appointment booking, basic video consultation integration, prescription/notes storage, doctor-side dashboard.

Two-sided marketplace MVP: ₹12–25 lakh

Cost driven by needing to build genuinely separate, well-considered experiences for both sides (buyer and seller), not one interface awkwardly serving both. Included: dual onboarding flows, listing management, search/discovery, messaging, and typically a basic commission or payment-split mechanism.

Real-money skill gaming MVP: ₹18–40 lakh

The widest range in this list, because compliance requirements vary enormously by state-level gaming regulation in India, and this is the single highest-scrutiny vertical for both app stores and regulators. Included: wallet with real-money handling, KYC/age verification, game engine integration, anti-fraud logic, and a compliance-focused admin dashboard. This is not a category to under-budget in — regulatory rework after launch is far more expensive than building it correctly the first time.

Content/creator app MVP: ₹6–14 lakh

One of the cheaper verticals because the core loop (create, publish, discover, engage) doesn’t inherently require heavy compliance or payment infrastructure at MVP stage. Included: content creation flow, feed/discovery, basic social features (likes, comments, follows), creator profile pages.

B2B SaaS dashboard MVP: ₹5–12 lakh

Narrower scope than consumer apps typically — one core workflow, a data table or two, basic reporting, and role-based access (admin vs. user). The cost driver here isn’t feature count but integration complexity — connecting to a client’s existing tools (CRM, accounting software) can add significant scope depending on the specific integrations required.

On-demand logistics/booking MVP: ₹9–20 lakh

Real-time location tracking is the single most expensive recurring feature across this entire list regardless of vertical — handling edge cases (connectivity drops, background battery optimization interfering with GPS) consistently takes longer than initial estimates. Included: dual apps (customer + provider), live tracking, booking/scheduling flow, and payment integration.

What’s consistent across all 7 industries

Real-time features and payment/compliance layers are the two cost multipliers that show up regardless of vertical. A founder in any industry who wants to reduce MVP cost should look first at whether real-time features are genuinely needed for the core hypothesis being tested, or whether a simpler polling-based or manual-coordination alternative would validate the same thing at a fraction of the cost.

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