There are several ways to pay
Some developers charge a one-off design/build price plus separate hosting. Others bundle design, hosting and maintenance into a monthly package. A bespoke site with custom software, payments or bookings will cost more than a simple brochure site.
Ask what the quoted price really covers
Check how many pages you get, whether your domain is included, what happens after launch and how much changes cost. Ask who owns the domain and what will be provided if you leave.
Compare total costs, not just the headline
For a subscription, multiply the monthly fee by the number of months you expect to keep the website. At £49/month that is £588 over 12 months, before any domain renewal or bespoke extras. This is gross spend, not a market average.
What £49/month could suit
A managed brochure website may be suitable if you want one supplier handling setup and ongoing updates. If you already have the technical skills to run a site yourself, a one-off build could be a better fit.