
The following table provides a guide to the range of approximate costs for building materials and labour costs. Please note that these costs are based on average prices charged by suppliers, contractors and tradespeople in each state, including GST. As such, they could only be used as an indicative guide to current market rates. The figures have been supplied by trade professionals throughout Australia. They may assist you with budgeting for your renovation project.
Typically, renovations are cheaper than new builds but this may depend on the location and availability of tradespeople so it is advisable to obtain quotes from several companies before starting any major project. Recently, building costs have increased (particularly around new construction) where the price of off the plan apartments in Sydney and it’s surrounding suburbs has increased, as well as renovations for existing properties. Project how much you can afford to spend on labour and materials before inviting quotes and shopping around. Also, take into consideration quality when comparing quotes. If you want a top-quality renovation, expect to pay more than the average cost for labour and materials.
The same rule applies when shopping for services and products from various retailers. Price shop. Don’t go by price alone because if one retailer has a significantly lower price, there may be a reason why. Ask questions or check online reviews before making any purchase or signing up with any service provider. Remember that cheaper is not always better especially when it comes to your hard-earned money.
Cost to Build a House Per Square Metre
If you’re planning to construct a new house, knowing how much it’ll cost is critical. Knowing how much it costs to build a home allows you to budget for the project. When you get quotes, this knowledge can also help you negotiate with the builder.
According to actual costs employed by builders, architects, and quantity surveyors, the cost to construct a house in Australia may range from $1300 per square metre to $3900+ per square metre, depending on your project’s requirements.
How Much Does it Cost to Build a House in Australia?
The cost of constructing a home is primarily determined by the number of rooms and grade of finish. We may be able to give you an idea of the typical house price in Australia per square meter, assuming that there are numerous variables to consider. On a level block with mid-range to high-end materials and finishes, expect to pay anything from $1600 – $1900 per square meter for a 3 bedroom full brick single level project house.
If you wish to build a dual-level home with brick, expect to pay $2200 to $2500 per square meter for the ground floor and $1600-1900 per square meter on the upper floor. For a single or double level home constructed with cement panels (steel frame covered in concrete), the cost may be as low as $600 to 900 per square metre.
Please note that these costs are approximate only. The average cost may vary according to your location, the size of the project and many other factors. It is also important to remember that contractors who specialize in more expensive work may not give you a cheaper total cost because their expertise usually comes with higher labour costs.
Average Building Cost Per Square Metre
An architect’s fees range from 5% to 10% of construction costs, depending on individual practice and type of project. The cost of a building designer is usually around 2.5% to 5% of construction costs plus GST whereas a contract draftsman charges about 1/3rd to ½ of the architect’s fee, additionally deducting for material wastage.
Do not fall prey to highly-priced quotes. Shop around and remember that price alone does not determine the quality or reliability of your service provider or product offered. When comparing quotes, ask if all extra expenses are included in the quoted price (e.g., extras like plumbing fixtures) before entrusting your money with them? Know what you’re getting into and shop around for the best deals.
Cost Per Square Metre to Build a House
A lot of Australians cut on building costs by going for house and land packages. The option to purchase a package deal is available for those who don’t want to go through the hassle of organising finance and planning permissions before construction starts. In most cases, you may find that buying a complete house and land package costs less per square metre than building from scratch, although it’s difficult to generalize as prices vary from company to company.
If you have a limited budget or just need a rough idea of the cost to build a house, try using a free online building quote calculator. The average square metre cost to build a home in Australia is around $1600. However, the average house price per square metre varies with location, the number of rooms and finishes applied.

Cost Per m2 to Build a House
The average total price per square metre of a built home in Australia is about $1490. The costs to build a house vary depending on the size and features you choose, as well as your location across the country. The average price per square metre ranges from around $1100/m2 for a 3 bedroom single level affordable house in an outer suburb or regional area, up to $2000/m2 for a high-end, luxury apartment in the CBD of major cities.
Average Building Costs and Construction Costs
The average total cost of building a house in Australia is about $2500 per square metre or around half a million for a typical home. However, the price varies depending on where you live and the standard of finishes applied to your project. The estimated construction cost per square metre below includes labour and material costs to build a standard brick veneer home with 4 bedrooms, a garage and a carport. This excludes land acquisition costs but includes stamp duty, legal fees and other expenses such as site preparation (including demolition work) and council and water connection charges.
In general, construction costs double when moving from a single level home to a 2 storey dwelling due to the additional height requiring higher structural loads which drive up engineering requirements and costs. You can expect to pay around 50% more for an apartment or townhouse compared to a single level dwelling due to additional costs associated with land acquisition and site preparation, as well as the structural design of multi-storey homes which is more complex than one storey houses.
The Average Cost of Labour Costs
The initial contract price to build a house is $50 per square metre of the completed dwelling. This excludes excavating site costs and clearing the site, which costs an additional $125 per square metre (or around $10K on average) paid to your builder or subcontractors. This also excludes federal and state governments as well as planning permits with the housing industry association. The final cost to build your own house may reach half a million in total, or more. Even if cheaper materials are used the final price for a new house won’t be much different.
Factors Affecting Building Costs
The price of construction materials is only one factor that affects the cost to build a house. You also need to take into account land acquisition costs, council fees and the cost of financing your project. Using a professional home builder can save you money as they have access to discounted building materials that you won’t be able to source yourself. By giving your builder detailed instructions on how you want your custom home built, they can plan what is required in advance and streamline the building process
In general, brick veneer homes are cheaper to build compared to solid concrete construction for equal square footage or quality finishes applied. It’s also less expensive per square metre for houses with more than 4 bedrooms due to economies of scale allowing larger projects/houses with 5 or more bedrooms to be built at a lower cost per square metre.
What Other Costs Can You Expect to Pay When Building a House?
Besides the initial cost of purchasing a building plot, there are additional costs for planning permission, fees to your solicitor, other professional services and appliances. So before you start construction it is advisable to compile an accurate budget. You could also expect fluctuations in prices for materials could the world economy change during the period of your home’s construction. If you are building a house on your own land, there may be no legal fees. But if you buy a site and need to apply for planning permission, the costs could be high.
Can You Build a House for $50000 in Australia?
It depends on how big your house may be, of course. $50000 is not enough for a medium-sized home built of bricks and mortar, but it could build you an apartment of 100 square meters or more if you are willing to do some work yourself. If you’re looking to buy land and have the house built by someone else, expect to pay around $100000-$200000.
This figure comes from the average cost of building a new home in Australia. However, prices can vary substantially throughout the country depending on where you are building. With median prices ranging from almost $500000 for detached homes in Melbourne’s inner suburbs to less than half that price for an apartment in Adelaide
How Much does Land Cost in Australia?
In Australia land can be purchased from private owners or companies. The value of land depends on a number of factors including its size, zoning and location in a specific area. Prices depend on demand, which is in turn influenced by proximity to highways, schools and shopping centres. It is also important to take into account the cost of the house and its development including building and infrastructure expenses.
For example, in Melbourne, 2010 median lot prices for separate houses ranged from $200000 – $300000 depending on size and location. The median price for a block of land suitable for subdivision was around $125000. This means that an average-sized 700 square metre parcel can be purchased for about $120500 (including GST).
A lot of factors affect the final price you may pay when buying land or having a house built:
- The type of land use (residential/industrial etc.)
- Soil quality
- Zoning/planning controls in place in that particular area
- Possible future demand for the land
- Cost of subdivision works (if applicable)
The market value of the land may be different from what you are willing to pay. The actual price is often negotiated between buyer and seller based on their own valuation. If you’re building, don’t forget that the cost of buying a building plot usually includes services such as roads, electricity and water connections, this decreases the amount of money required for your initial deposit.
Are There any Grants or Government Assistance to Help Me Build My Dream Home?
Yes, both State and Federal governments have schemes in place which can assist with some aspects of your project. Currently, there are over 20 grants available depending on your circumstances. These include loans, cash payments, tax benefits/exemptions etc. Each state has its own program, so check for specific criteria
Heritage Home Ownership Scheme is granted up to $20 000 are offered to Australian residents who have lived in their home for more than 10 years and want to move or rebuild. You can apply if your house is registered on a local government heritage register or listed on the National Estate Register of Heritage Places.
Home Construction Grant is available to all first-time buyers of new homes who have not owned residential property before. This grant gives you 20 per cent of the cost of the build-up to a maximum amount of $12000 per dwelling, with a lifetime limit on grants per individual household of $20 000. First HomeOwner Grant is available to all first time home buyers and gives a one-off cash payment of $7000 for detached homes and $10 000 for other properties. If you buy your home after July 1st 2009 the grant has been reduced to $2000.