Most Boston restaurants spend somewhere between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars a month on social media content. Where you land depends on three things: how much new video you need, who films it, and whether someone also posts and replies for you.
The short answer
Here is what the main options usually cost in 2026, based on published industry pricing guides. Agencies in big cities like Boston tend to charge more than the same service in a smaller market.
| Option | What you get | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Doing it in-house | A staff member films and posts between shifts | No invoice, but hours of staff time each week |
| A content creator, per video | Short vertical videos, like Reels or TikToks | About $150–$300 per video for most creators; beginners from about $100, experienced creators $500+ |
| A photographer, by the hour | Photos of dishes, drinks and the room | About $139–$300 per hour (market range) |
| A freelance social media manager | Planning, captions, posting and replies | About $300–$800 a month for beginners; $1,500–$3,000+ for experienced freelancers |
| A small agency, small-business package | 1–2 platforms, about 8–12 posts a month, simple reports | About $500–$2,000 a month |
| A specialized agency in a major city | Full service, often with paid ads | From about $7,500 a month |
Ranges come from the pricing guides listed at the end of this article. They are national figures unless noted, so treat them as a starting point, not a quote.
What actually changes the price
Two restaurants can pay very different amounts for “social media” because the word covers very different work. These are the things that move the number most:
- How much new video you need. Filming and editing are the biggest cost. One reel a week is a very different budget from one a day.
- Who films it. Content shot on location, in your kitchen and dining room, takes a visit and planning. Templates and stock photos are cheaper, but guests can tell.
- Whether someone posts for you. Writing captions, scheduling, answering comments and messages, and keeping stories active is ongoing work on top of the content itself.
- How many platforms. Instagram alone is the usual start. Adding TikTok, Facebook or Google Business Profile adds versions and time.
- Paid ads. Running ads is usually billed separately, either as a share of the ad spend or as a flat monthly fee, plus the ad budget itself.
- Who owns the content. Some creators charge extra to use their videos in ads or to hand over the raw footage, often 30–50% on top of the base price.
What to expect at different budgets
A few hundred dollars a month usually buys either content or posting, rarely both. A good use of a small budget is one shoot that gives you a batch of reels and photos, which your team posts over the following weeks.
Around $1,000–$2,000 a month is where you can usually get regular on-location content and someone handling the posting. That is enough for steady weekly activity on one or two platforms.
Above that, you are paying for more volume, more platforms, paid ads, or the overhead of a larger agency team.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- Who films, and do they come to the restaurant? Real footage of your food and people is what makes content work for a restaurant.
- How many finished videos and photos do I get each month? Ask for a number, not “regular content”.
- Do you post and reply to comments, or only deliver files?
- Who owns the content, and can I use it in ads and on my website?
- How long is the contract, and what happens if I want to stop?
- Can I see work you did for another restaurant? And ask what it was meant to achieve: more covers, event bookings or delivery orders.
How we price at NoScript Creative
Our monthly plans for restaurants start at $600 a month. The exact price depends on how many reels and shoots you need and whether we also post for you.
We start from what you want more of: busy weeknights, private event bookings, delivery orders or a new menu people talk about. Then we suggest the smallest plan that gets you there.
For Sudbury Point Grill, that meant one reel for each goal: the kitchen, the healthy menu, the function room and delivery. Every piece was filmed on location with their own food and team.
- Social Media Management Pricing: Rates and Costs for 2026, eclincher
- Social Media Management Costs: How Much to Charge?, SocialPilot
- UGC Rates 2026: The Ultimate Guide With Real Numbers, Influee
- How much does a food photographer cost in Boston?, Snappr
Prices checked October 26, 2026. They change often and vary by provider.