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PCI Compliance Cost 2026

Full cost breakdown of PCI DSS compliance by SAQ type and organisation size — QSA fees, penetration testing, scanning, tooling, and staffing.

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Cost by SAQ Type (2026)

SAQ TypeProfileQSA / SAQPen TestScanningToolingStaffingTotal / Year
SAQ-ASmall (e-comm, outsourced)$2k–$8k$3k–$8k$1k–$3k$5k–$15k$20k–$40k$31k–$74k
SAQ-D (Merchant)Mid-market$8k–$25k$8k–$20k$3k–$8k$20k–$60k$80k–$150k$119k–$263k
SAQ-D (SP)Mid-market SP$15k–$40k$12k–$30k$5k–$12k$30k–$80k$100k–$200k$162k–$362k
Level 1 ROCEnterprise$40k–$200k$20k–$60k$8k–$25k$60k–$200k$200k–$500k$328k–$985k

FAQ

How much does PCI compliance cost for a small business?

Small businesses using SAQ-A typically spend $5,000–$20,000 per year on PCI compliance, including annual SAQ completion, quarterly scans, and basic security controls.

What is the cost of a Level 1 ROC assessment?

A Level 1 ROC assessment by a QSA firm typically costs $40,000–$200,000+ depending on scope size, geographic distribution, and the number of systems in the cardholder data environment.

What are the fines for PCI non-compliance?

Card brand fines for PCI non-compliance range from $5,000–$100,000 per month. After a breach, fines can exceed $500,000 plus costs of forensic investigation, card replacement, and reputational damage.

How can automation reduce PCI compliance costs?

Automation of evidence collection, continuous monitoring, and remediation tracking typically reduces PCI compliance costs by 35–55%. GRCTrack customers average $82,000 in annual savings.

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