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How much does it cost to build a "cheap" 100-square-meter house in July 2025? _ La Nacion Propiedades
Source:
www.lanacion.com.ar
July 31, 2025
After a year in which construction costs rose sharply, experts respond to the question of how much it currently costs to build an affordable home.
The cost of construction is increasing and for now it seems to have no ceiling. Shutterstock
At a time when mortgage loans are once again becoming available in the country , the possibility of owning a home has once again become a topic of conversation among Argentines. Among the concerns that emerge is the question of how much the construction costs of a home are currently.
The real estate development sector faces significant challenges , as construction costs have accumulated a 126% increase since October 2023. On the other hand, the sales value per square meter of land only rose 23.82% on average , according to Zonaprop figures, creating a difficult situation for developers seeking to generate profitability with their business.
Recently, the possibility of importing products from China to reduce construction costs has generated a lot of interest . Argentine real estate developers traveled to the Asian country in May with a clear objective: to find better prices , amid growing trade liberalization in Argentina. The entrepreneurs toured trade fairs, visited factories, analyzed construction solutions, and spoke with entrepreneurs who produce on a scale that is difficult to imagine in Argentina.
Construction costs have accumulated a 126% increase since October 2023. Shutterstock
“It's true: in China, India, Brazil, and other markets, materials are available at incredibly competitive prices. From panelized systems to sanitary fixtures, including industrialized technology, the offering is varied, modern, and efficient,” said Mali Vázquez, executive director of the Chamber of Urban Developers (CEDU), one of the Argentines who traveled to the Asian country in May. However, others believe that lowering costs by importing is difficult, as few materials can be easily imported from abroad, so the impact on the final price ends up being low. Furthermore, there is a great risk involved, as it is not easy to file claims in case of defects when the supplier is located on the other side of the globe.
Now, if you consider a more standard square meter of construction, not going for the most affordable price on the market, you'd be talking about US$1,700 + VAT (US$1,878.5), although it rises to US$2,000 + VAT for something higher-end (US$2,210). So, in the first case, for a 100 m² house, we'd be talking US$187,850, while for something more premium, it would rise to US$221,000.
A square meter of more standard construction, without going to the most economical on the market, would be talking about US$1700 + VAT (US$1878.5). Shutterstock
"The equation is dramatic: 14 consecutive months with the dollar in the US$1,200-US$1,300 range; meanwhile, during the same period, inflation in pesos to build a house was 68%," explains Reporte Inmobiliario. This means that increasingly more dollars are needed to build the same square footage.
It's worth noting that this year's construction cost increase was milder than the increase recorded in 2024. In fact, according to Zonaprop, the increase has accumulated by 126% since October 2023, but it has slowed down today, while the increase was 1.2% in June.
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Source:
Cuánto cuesta construir una casa “barata” de 100 metros cuadrados en julio 2025
Luego de un año en que los costos de la construcción aumentaron fuertemente, expertos responden cuánto cuesta actualmente levantar una casa económica
www.lanacion.com.ar
July 31, 2025
After a year in which construction costs rose sharply, experts respond to the question of how much it currently costs to build an affordable home.
The cost of construction is increasing and for now it seems to have no ceiling. Shutterstock
At a time when mortgage loans are once again becoming available in the country , the possibility of owning a home has once again become a topic of conversation among Argentines. Among the concerns that emerge is the question of how much the construction costs of a home are currently.
The real estate development sector faces significant challenges , as construction costs have accumulated a 126% increase since October 2023. On the other hand, the sales value per square meter of land only rose 23.82% on average , according to Zonaprop figures, creating a difficult situation for developers seeking to generate profitability with their business.
Recently, the possibility of importing products from China to reduce construction costs has generated a lot of interest . Argentine real estate developers traveled to the Asian country in May with a clear objective: to find better prices , amid growing trade liberalization in Argentina. The entrepreneurs toured trade fairs, visited factories, analyzed construction solutions, and spoke with entrepreneurs who produce on a scale that is difficult to imagine in Argentina.
Construction costs have accumulated a 126% increase since October 2023. Shutterstock
“It's true: in China, India, Brazil, and other markets, materials are available at incredibly competitive prices. From panelized systems to sanitary fixtures, including industrialized technology, the offering is varied, modern, and efficient,” said Mali Vázquez, executive director of the Chamber of Urban Developers (CEDU), one of the Argentines who traveled to the Asian country in May. However, others believe that lowering costs by importing is difficult, as few materials can be easily imported from abroad, so the impact on the final price ends up being low. Furthermore, there is a great risk involved, as it is not easy to file claims in case of defects when the supplier is located on the other side of the globe.
How much does it cost to build a “cheap” 100 m2 house?
In this context, LA NACION consulted industry experts about the starting prices of construction today, and they confirmed that a low-cost home can start at US$1,400 + VAT (US$1,547) and reach US$1,500 + VAT (US$1,657.5). Thus, taking an average of the two, a low-cost 100 m² home would cost around US$160,225.Now, if you consider a more standard square meter of construction, not going for the most affordable price on the market, you'd be talking about US$1,700 + VAT (US$1,878.5), although it rises to US$2,000 + VAT for something higher-end (US$2,210). So, in the first case, for a 100 m² house, we'd be talking US$187,850, while for something more premium, it would rise to US$221,000.
A square meter of more standard construction, without going to the most economical on the market, would be talking about US$1700 + VAT (US$1878.5). Shutterstock
Why are construction costs rising?
One of the main causes behind this phenomenon is the stability of the dollar or the fall in the value of the American currency in recent months , which means that increasingly more dollars are needed to build the same thing. For more than two years, costs measured in US currency kept pace with fluctuating inflation in pesos and constant devaluations. However, with the dollar remaining virtually unchanged recently, construction costs have reached unexpected levels."The equation is dramatic: 14 consecutive months with the dollar in the US$1,200-US$1,300 range; meanwhile, during the same period, inflation in pesos to build a house was 68%," explains Reporte Inmobiliario. This means that increasingly more dollars are needed to build the same square footage.
It's worth noting that this year's construction cost increase was milder than the increase recorded in 2024. In fact, according to Zonaprop, the increase has accumulated by 126% since October 2023, but it has slowed down today, while the increase was 1.2% in June.
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