The online food delivery market is booming, with Statista projecting it to reach USD 15.13 billion in Saudi Arabia by 2029. Busy lifestyles and a growing preference for convenience drive this trend, as people increasingly rely on apps to order their favorite meals.
Developing a food delivery app like HungerStation in Saudi Arabia can be lucrative, but it's important to understand the costs involved. Basic apps with essential features typically cost between SAR 112,500 and SAR 187,500. More sophisticated apps with advanced features and a better user interface can cost between SAR 187,500 and SAR 937,500.
These costs are influenced by factors such as the app's complexity, the development team's expertise, and the specific needs of the business. If you're an entrepreneur with a vision to enter this exciting space, how much does it cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation in Saudi Arabia?
This comprehensive blog will delve into the factors influencing on-demand food delivery app development costs, explore the steps involved, you'll need to consider.
Basic Introduction of HungerStation Food Delivery App
HungerStation is a prominent online food delivery platform operating primarily in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. Launched in 2013, it has become a household name by connecting users with many restaurants, offering convenient ordering, real-time order tracking, and secure payment options.
The app boasts a user-friendly interface that allows users to:
- Browse restaurants by location, cuisine type, and popularity.
- View detailed menus with pictures and pricing.
- Apply filters to find specific dishes or dietary preferences.
- Schedule orders for future delivery.
- Track order status in real time.
- Utilize various secure payment methods.
- Leave reviews and ratings for restaurants.
Cost to Build a Food Delivery App Like HungerStation
The cost of developing a food delivery app like HungerStation in Saudi Arabia can vary significantly, ranging from USD 30,000 to USD 250,000 or more.
Here’s a brief estimate for HungerStation like food delivery app pricing:
| App Type | Estimated Cost | Time Frame |
| Simple App | SAR 112,500 to SAR 150,000 | 3 – 6 months |
| Moderately Complex App | SAR 37,500 to SAR 187,500 | 6 – 9 months |
| Highly Complex App | SAR 525,000 to SAR 937,500+ | 9-12+ months |
It's important to note that these are just estimates. The actual cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation depends on your specific requirements. You get quotes from multiple development teams to get a better idea of the costs involved.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Food Delivery App Like HungerStation
Here are several factors that can impact the cost of on-demand food delivery app development in Saudi Arabia:
The user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design are critical to the success of your app. A simple design with standard layouts is more affordable. On the other hand, custom graphics, animations, and branding elements increase cost.
Let’s explore the estimated UI/UX design cost for food delivery apps:
| App Design Stage | What It Includes | Average Costs in SAR |
| Research & Wireframing | Competitor analysis (HungerStation, Talabat, Jahez) - User flow mapping - Wireframe creation for each screen | SAR 7,500 – SAR 15,000 |
| Visual Design (UI) | -Color palette, typography, icons, branding - High-fidelity mockups for customer, restaurant dashboard & delivery partner app | SAR 11,250 – SAR 22,500 |
| Interactive Prototyping | - Clickable prototypes for journey testing - Feedback iterations & usability testing | SAR 7,500 – SAR 18,750 |
| Responsive & Adaptive Design | - Optimizing designs for iOS, Android & tablets | SAR 3,750 – SAR 11,250 |
| Branding & Custom Illustrations | - Custom graphics, animations, mascots - More vibrant visuals (like Talabat) | SAR 7,500 – SAR 18,750 |
2. App Platform Choice
Choosing the right platform plays a major role in the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation. You can either build for a single platform first (iOS or Android) or go for a cross-platform solution that covers both simultaneously.
Single Platform (iOS or Android):
It’s Ideal for startups testing the market with a smaller budget.
Estimated Cost: ≈ SAR 56,250 – SAR 93,750
Cross-Platform (iOS + Android):
It helps to reach a wider audience in Saudi Arabia, where Android dominates but iOS is also popular among premium users. Cross-platform app development ensures faster time-to-market and reduced long-term costs.
Estimated Cost: ≈ SAR 112,500 – SAR 187,500
3. App Development Costs
When estimating the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation, development expenses are usually divided into two main areas:
1. Frontend Development Costs
The frontend covers everything your users see and interact with, from the design to the navigation experience. A smooth, attractive UI/UX is essential to keep users engaged.
Cost Factors:
- UI/UX design complexity
- Platform choice (iOS, Android, or both)
- Animations, transitions & interactive features
- Responsiveness across multiple devices
Estimated Cost of Front-End App Development: SAR 30,000 – 55,000
2. Backend Infrastructure Costs
App backend manages restaurant data, user accounts, real-time tracking, payments, and notifications. It ensures smooth order placement and delivery operations.
Cost Factors:
- Database architecture & scalability
- API integrations (payment gateways, maps, SMS/Email)
- Real-time order & delivery tracking
- Cloud infrastructure & server maintenance
Estimated Cost of Backend Infrastructure: SAR 45,000 – 93,000
The combined app development cost (frontend + backend) usually falls between SAR 75,000 – SAR 150,000. But this can rise if you opt for advanced features like AI-driven recommendations, loyalty programs, or multi-language support.
4. Development Team Location
One of the biggest factors influencing the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation is your team location. Hourly rates vary widely across regions, which directly impacts your budget.
North America & Western Europe
Developers in these regions often charge USD 80 – 150 per hour (SAR 300 – 560 per hour). While more expensive, they bring strong expertise, high-quality standards, and easy collaboration within similar time zones for businesses in the West.
Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)
Hiring locally in the Middle East can be relatively expensive, with hourly rates typically ranging from USD 60 – 120 (SAR 225 – SAR 450 per hour). Companies prefer hiring offshore or nearshore teams to balance quality with cost savings.
Eastern Europe
A popular outsourcing destination with skilled developers charging around USD 40 – 70 per hour (SAR 150 – SAR 260 per hour). It offers a balance between affordability and quality.
Asia (India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Philippines)
Known for cost-effective development, rates here range between USD 20 – 40 per hour (SAR 75 – SAR 150 per hour). Many businesses choose this option to minimize costs while still getting skilled talent.
Choosing the right location depends on your budget, required expertise, and preferred collaboration model.
5. Development Model
One of the most important factors that impact the cost to develop a food delivery app like HungerStation. There are three main app development models:
- In-house development: You build a team of developers on your payroll, offering the most control and the highest cost.
- Freelancers: Hiring freelance developers can be cost-effective but managing them remotely requires strong communication skills.
- App development agencies: Agencies offer a one-stop solution with experience in all aspects of app development, but their fees might be higher.
6. Third Party Integrations
Integrating third-party services is essential to enhance the functionality of a HungerStation like online food delivery app. Here are a few features you need to integrate to make the app more user-friendly and engaging:
- Secure payment gateways
- Real-time maps for delivery tracking
- Push notifications
- Social media logins
While these integrations save time by reducing custom development timeline, each comes with its own setup fees, licensing charges, or per-transaction costs.
However, these integrations come with their own setup fees and recurring cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation:
- Payment Gateways (Stripe, PayPal, HyperPay, PayFort):
Transaction fees usually range from 2% – 3% per transaction plus setup charges.
Estimated Cost: SAR 11,000 – SAR 26,000 - Map & Location Services (Google Maps API, Mapbox):
Pricing is often usage-based, depending on the number of requests (distance calculations, live tracking, etc.).
Estimated Cost: SAR 5,500 – SAR 18,500 - Social Media Logins (Google, Facebook, Apple):
Basic integrations are free but require developer effort and compliance testing.
Estimated Cost: SAR 1,800 – SAR 7,500 - Push Notifications & Messaging Services (Firebase, Twilio):
While Firebase is free for basic use, advanced SMS/email services from Twilio or similar providers incur per-message charges.
Estimated Cost: SAR 3,800 – SAR 11,000
Depending on the chosen services and usage, third-party integrations can add between SAR 22,000 – SAR 63,000 to your overall app development budget.
By carefully considering these factors, you can determine online food delivery app development cost in Saudi Arabia.
How to Build a Food Delivery App like HungerStation? Cost Estimation
Developing a successful food delivery app requires a well-defined process:
Developing a successful food delivery app requires a well-defined process:
1. Market Research and Planning:
- Analyze the food delivery market in your target region.
- Identify your unique selling proposition (USP) to differentiate yourself from competitors.
- Define your target audience and their needs.
- Create a detailed business plan outlining your revenue model and marketing strategy.
2. User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design:
- Design a visually appealing and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate.
- Create user flows to guide users through the app's functionalities.
- Conduct usability testing to identify and address any pain points.
3. App Development:
- Choose the appropriate technology stack (e.g., iOS, Android, or cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter).
- Develop the app's backend infrastructure for data storage, user authentication, and order processing.
- Integrate with third-party services like payment gateways, mapping APIs, and messaging platforms.
4. Testing and Quality Assurance:
- Thoroughly test the app on various devices and operating systems.
- Identify and fix bugs and performance issues.
- Conduct user acceptance testing to ensure the app meets expectations.
5. App Launch and Marketing:
- Submit your app to app stores (Apple App Store and Google Play Store).
- Develop a marketing strategy to promote your app and attract users.
- Utilize social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and app store optimization (ASO) to increase visibility.
6. Post-Launch Support and Updates:
- Monitor user feedback and reviews.
- Continuously update the app with new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
- Provide excellent customer support to address user inquiries and issues.
Here is a cost estimation of on-demand food delivery app development like HungerStation:
| App Development Phases | Average Costs in SAR |
| Market Research & Planning | SAR 11,250 – SAR 30,000 |
| UI/UX Design | SAR 18,750 – SAR 56,250 |
| App Development | SAR 75,000 - SAR 450,000+ |
| Testing & Quality Assurance | SAR 18,750 – SAR 56,250 |
| App Launch & Marketing | SAR 18,750 – SAR 75,000 |
| Post-Launch Support & Updates | SAR 37,500 – SAR 93,750 |
Must-Have Features of HungerStation Like On-Demand Food Delivery App Development
Here are following essential features with their approx cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation:
| Feature | Description | Estimated Cost (SAR) |
| Restaurant Listing | Comprehensive list of restaurants with menus, photos, and ratings. | SAR 15,000 – SAR 30,000 |
| Search & Filtering | Search by location, cuisine, price, etc. with advanced filtering options. | SAR 11,250 – SAR 26,250 |
| Order Placement | Intuitive ordering flow with customization (add/remove toppings, etc.). | SAR 18,750 – SAR 37,500 |
| Payment Integration | Secure gateways (credit card, digital wallets, COD). | SAR 18,750 – SAR 45,000 |
| Order Tracking | Real-time order status with map integration. | SAR 22,500 – SAR 56,250 |
| Delivery Driver Tracking | Live GPS tracking of delivery personnel. | SAR 22,500 – SAR 45,000 |
| Reviews & Ratings | Allow customers to review and rate food & delivery. | SAR 11,250 – SAR 22,500 |
| Push Notifications | Order updates, promos, and personalized recommendations. | SAR 7,500 – SAR 18,750 |
| Loyalty Programs | Reward users with points, discounts, or vouchers. | SAR 15,000 – SAR 30,000 |
| Customer Support | In-app chat, call, or email support integration. | SAR 11,250 – SAR 26,250 |
Hidden Cost to Build a Food Delivery App Like HungerStation
When estimating the cost to build a HungerStation-like app, many businesses focus only on development charges for design, backend, and frontend. However, there are several hidden costs that can significantly impact the overall budget:
App Maintenance & Updates
After launch, your app requires regular bug fixes, performance upgrades, feature enhancements, and OS compatibility updates. Maintenance can account for 15–20% of the initial food delivery app development cost annually.
Server Hosting & Cloud Storage
Food delivery apps handle massive real-time data, including restaurant listings, order details, and payment records. Cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud can cost anywhere between a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month, depending on user volume.
Third-Party APIs & Integrations
Features like payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal), map services (Google Maps), SMS/OTP verification, and push notifications usually involve licensing or usage-based fees.
App Store Charges
Both Apple App Store and Google Play Store have one-time or recurring fees for publishing apps. Plus, they deduct 15–30% commission on in-app purchases.
Marketing & Customer Acquisition
A critical hidden cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation is marketing to attract users and restaurants. This includes digital ads, referral programs, influencer collaborations, and loyalty rewards.
Security & Compliance
Implementing secure payment systems, complying with GDPR or PCI-DSS, and ensuring data privacy adds extra costs often overlooked in initial planning.
How to Reduce the Cost of Online Food Delivery App Development?
HungerStation like food delivery app development in KSA can be costly, but businesses can optimize spending by following these strategies:
Launch with an MVP
One strategy you need to follow when reducing the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation is launching with an MVP. Start with core features like restaurant listings, search, order placement, and payment. Once you gain users, you can add advanced features like loyalty programs and AI recommendations.
Use Cross-Platform Development
Building separately for iOS and Android (both widely used in KSA) is expensive. Instead, use Flutter or React Native to launch a single app for both platforms. It saves time and up to 40% in the costs to build a food delivery app like HungerStation.
Leverage Pre-Built APIs
Another factor you need to consider when minimizing the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation. Instead of building your own payment or delivery tracking system, integrate trusted Saudi-friendly APIs like;
- STC Pay
- Google Maps
- PayTabs
It reduces online food delivery app development costs and complexity.
Cloud Hosting Instead of On-Premises Servers
Using AWS or GCP or Azure in the Middle East region offers flexibility and lower infrastructure costs compared to managing your own servers.
Outsource to Cost-Effective Development Partners
Partnering with experienced offshore development companies can cut down expenses while ensuring quality. This is especially useful for Saudi businesses wanting faster time-to-market at lower costs.
How to Create a Food Delivery App That Stands Out from Hungerstation?
The Saudi Arabian food delivery market is booming, with players like HungerStation already dominating. To carve your niche and grab market share, you need to go beyond basic features. Integrating advanced technologies and unique engagement strategies can make your food delivery app stand out.
While exploring innovative features, it’s also essential to understand the cost to build a food delivery app like Jahez or HungerStation. Development expenses vary based on complexity, integrations, and scalability needs.
Here’s how you can differentiate your app and maximize ROI:
Advanced AI Recommendations
Leverage AI-driven personalization to recommend meals and restaurants based on a user’s past orders, time of day, dietary preferences (halal, vegan, keto), or even local events like Ramadan specials. This ensures every user feels like the app “knows them” and makes decision-making faster.
Example: If a user frequently orders Kabsa on Fridays, the app can push an AI-driven reminder with a special Kabsa deal right before lunch.
Intelligent Route Optimization
Delivery speed is a dealbreaker in food delivery. Implement AI-powered route optimization that considers real-time traffic conditions, rider availability, and restaurant preparation time to ensure faster deliveries. This is especially critical in busy Saudi cities like Riyadh and Jeddah.
Bonus: Multiple order batching can be optimized so one driver delivers to several nearby customers without delays.
AI-Powered Customer Service
Traditional customer service is slow and resource heavy. With AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants, customers can resolve issues (wrong item, refund request, delivery delay) instantly in both Arabic and English. Escalations can seamlessly transfer to human agents when needed.
This creates a frictionless support system that reduces churn and improves customer trust while evaluating the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation.
Voice Search in Arabic
In Saudi Arabia, where Arabic is dominant, voice-enabled search can be a game-changer. This feature simplifies ordering for users who prefer voice over typing and makes your app more inclusive.
Behavioral Analytics for Targeted Marketing
Leverage big data and AI-driven behavioral analytics to understand user habits. For example:
- Who orders midnight snacks?
- Which neighborhoods prefer fast food vs. traditional meals?
- What discounts drive the highest engagement?
With these insights, you can launch hyper-personalized campaigns and push notifications that increase conversion rates while reducing marketing spend.
AR Menu Previews
One way to win customers is to help them visualize their food before ordering. With Augmented Reality (AR), users can see 3D previews of dishes directly on their table via their phone camera.
Example: A user can check how a shawarma platter looks in real size, helping them make confident choices. This interactive experience can significantly boost order value and user satisfaction.
Loyalty and Rewards Programs
Retaining customers is just as important as acquiring them. Build loyalty programs with flexible rewards, such as:
- Free delivery after 5 orders
- Discount coupons for repeat customers
- Exclusive Ramadan or Eid offers
This keeps users engaged and prevents them from switching back to HungerStation.
Gamification Features
Make ordering food fun and engaging with gamified elements:
- Spin-the-wheel discounts
- Daily challenges (e.g., try a new restaurant to earn bonus points)
- Leaderboards for top foodies in a city
Beyond improving retention, these features also impact the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation. Adding gamification requires advanced design and seamless backend integration. It increases development effort but delivers higher user engagement and long-term ROI.
By combining AI, AR, voice technologies, gamification, and data-driven personalization, your food delivery app can provide Saudi-specific experience that HungerStation currently lacks. This differentiation not only attracts new customers but also builds long-term loyalty in an increasingly competitive market.
How VLink Helped Marico Achieve 2X Sales Growth with a Modern Gamification App
When businesses ask, “Is investing in a food delivery app worth the cost?”—our answer is always backed by real results. Take Marico, a global FMCG leader, for example.
Marico wanted to boost the performance of its sales teams and increase engagement across channels. VLink built a custom gamification app using Flutter technology with features like real-time dashboards, leaderboards, and reward systems. Within months, Marico’s sales team performance skyrocketed by 20%, and overall sales revenue doubled.
What made the difference?
- A user-friendly interface designed with engaging gaming elements.
- Seamless integration with APIs for real-time data tracking.
- Cross-platform scalability, ensuring smooth use on both Android and iOS.
Now imagine applying the same innovative approach to your food delivery app like HungerStation. It enhances customer engagement with gamified loyalty programs, AR menus, and AI-powered recommendations.
The result? Higher retention, more orders, and exponential revenue growth.
And when you evaluate the cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation, investing in advanced features like these ensures you get maximum ROI.
Ready to build an app that doesn’t just compete, but dominates? Contact VLink today and let’s turn your idea into the next big success story.
How Does an App Like HungerStation Make Money?
Food ordering apps like HungerStation generate revenue through a combination of strategic channels:
- Commission Fees: A primary source of income comes from charging restaurants a percentage of each order placed through the platform. This commission fee is typically calculated based on the order's total value.
- Delivery Charges: Customers often pay a delivery fee, which contributes to covering the costs associated with delivering food, including driver wages and transportation expenses.
- Advertising and Promotions: These apps allow restaurants and food brands to advertise their offerings. This can include featured listings, banner ads, and sponsored promotions, generating additional revenue for the platform.
- Subscription Models: Some apps offer premium services or memberships for restaurants and users. Restaurants might benefit from reduced commission rates or enhanced features, while users could enjoy perks like free delivery or exclusive discounts.
By effectively leveraging these revenue streams, food ordering apps like HungerStation create a sustainable business model that benefits both restaurants and customers while ensuring the platform's profitability.
Empower Your Food Delivery Business in Saudi Arabia with VLink!
Choosing the right development partner is crucial in the competitive world of food delivery apps. As a reliable mobile app development company in Saudi Arabia, we offer a comprehensive suite of services to help you build a successful and scalable app.
Here's why you should choose our mobile app development company in Saudi Arabia:
- Experienced Team: Hire our skilled food delivery app developers and designers with a proven track record of creating successful food delivery apps.
- Custom Solutions: We tailor our solutions to meet your needs and goals, ensuring a unique and practical app.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: VLink utilizes the latest technologies to deliver high-performance, user-friendly apps.
- End-to-end Development: We provide end-to-end development services from ideation to deployment, ensuring a seamless process.
- Scalability: Our apps are designed to scale with your business, accommodating growth and increased demand.
Want to know the exact cost to build a food delivery app like HungerStation? Speak to our experts today for a free consultation.
Shivisha Patel
