Estimating PCI DSS Compliance Costs

PCI DSS compliance is an investment—but one that delivers significant value in protecting cardholder data and building customer trust.

Cost drivers include:

• Scope of compliance. More complex environments (e.g., large data centers or multi-cloud architectures) incur higher costs.

• Audit method. A ROC performed by a QSA typically costs more than an SAQ process.

• Remediation effort. Implementing missing controls or re-architecting systems can add cost.

• Internal personnel time. Staff across security, IT, compliance, and legal will be involved.

Typical ranges:

• Small businesses using SAQ: $5,000 to $20,000

• Mid-sized organizations using SAQ: $15,000 to $50,000

• Large enterprises requiring ROC: $50,000 to $250,000+