Two websites with the same number of pages can require very different levels of work. The difference usually sits in the thinking, functionality, integrations, and responsibility behind the build.
Discovery clarifies what the business needs to communicate, who the experience is for, and what people should be able to do. Skipping that work often creates a polished website that does not solve the right problem.
Design effort depends on the clarity of the brand, the number of distinct page types, and how much original interface work is required. Development effort grows with behaviours such as bookings, payments, dashboards, and external integrations.
A useful proposal should state what is included, what is not, how feedback will work, and what happens after launch. Clear scope matters more than a headline price.