A single, always-current read on what it costs to build and renovate in Australia — for the nation, Adelaide and Melbourne. We don't invent numbers: every figure below is drawn from official and industry sources, cited inline, and dated.
The Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI), published by Cotality (formerly CoreLogic), measures how fast construction costs (labour and materials) are moving. Costs are rising again after a brief slowdown, but growth stays below the five-year average and well under post-pandemic peaks.
Quarterly (June 2026 quarter)
+1.0%
up from +0.2% (March 2026 quarter)
Annual (12 months to June 2026)
+2.8%
vs +2.3% (year to March 2026)
| State | Cost growth — June 2026 quarter |
|---|---|
| NSW | +1.1% |
| QLD | +1.0% |
| SAour focus | +1.0% |
| WA | +1.0% |
| VICour focus | +0.9% |
What's driving it: Labour scarcity, Supply constraints (notably PVC and PEX piping), Higher costs for heavy plant and machinery.
Quarterly escalation in labour + material costs. Adelaide (SA) and Melbourne (VIC) highlighted.
Nationally, ABS completion data puts the average new detached house at $1,967/m² ($474,939 over 241.5 m²). That's the official anchor; new 2026 contracts sit higher, which is the market range. Here's how Adelaide and Melbourne compare.
ABS Building Activity 2024–25 — official completed-home average. Adelaide (SA) and Melbourne (VIC) highlighted.
$1,788/m²
≈ $389,949 avg completed home
ABS 2024–25
$2,200 – $4,000/m²
base build, excl. land & GST
RLB Q4 2025 — Adelaide, custom (excl. GST)
The ABS figure is the official average of completed homes (contracts signed 12–24 months ago, all build types). New 2026 contracts — especially custom builds — sit higher, which is the market range.
Figures last verified June 2026.
| Build tier | Cost per m² | Est. total build (200 m² home, base build excl. land) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / Basic – Volume project home | $1,600 - $2,200 | $320,000 - $440,000 |
| Mid-Range – Upgraded finishes | $2,200 - $2,800 | $440,000 - $560,000 |
| High-End / Custom – Bespoke design | $2,800 - $4,000 | $560,000 - $800,000 |
| Luxury – Architectural design | $4,000 - $6,000+ | $800,000 - $1.2M+ |
At a mid-range rate of $2,200–$2,800/m² (base build, excl. land).
$1,914/m²
≈ $485,292 avg completed home
ABS 2024–25
$2,700 – $6,900/m²
base build, excl. land & GST
RLB Q4 2025 — Melbourne, custom (excl. GST)
The ABS figure is the official average of completed homes (contracts signed 12–24 months ago, all build types). New 2026 contracts — especially custom builds — sit higher, which is the market range.
Figures last verified June 2026.
| Build tier | Cost per m² | Est. total build (200 m² home, base build excl. land) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / Basic – Volume project home | $1,900 - $2,700 | $380,000 - $540,000 |
| Mid-Range – Upgraded finishes | $2,700 - $3,600 | $540,000 - $720,000 |
| High-End / Custom – Bespoke design | $3,600 - $5,200 | $720,000 - $1.04M |
| Luxury – Architectural design | $5,200 - $6,900+ | $1.04M - $1.38M+ |
At a mid-range rate of $2,700–$3,600/m² (base build, excl. land).
Sources: ABS Building Activity 2024–25 (official averages); RLB construction cost report (current market tender rates); HIA, Master Builders and BMT Quantity Surveyors (build-type benchmarks). ABS state averages per m²: NSW $2,396, QLD $1,987, VIC $1,914, SA $1,788, WA $1,585.
National metro ranges. Melbourne typically sits toward the upper end and Adelaide slightly below, in line with the ABS new-build gap (SA $1,788/m² vs VIC $1,914/m²).
| Work | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-home renovation (standard) | $3,000 – $5,000/m² | Full range $2,000 – $7,000+/m² by complexity and finish. |
| Ground-floor extension (shell) | $3,500 – $5,500/m² | Structural shell; fit-out costed separately. |
| Second-storey addition | $4,500 – $7,000/m² | Higher — structural reinforcement and roof lifting. |
| Kitchen renovation (mid-range) | $25,000 – $45,000 | Budget refresh $12k–$18k; premium designer $60k+. Archicentre 2026: $23k–$49k standard. |
| Bathroom renovation (mid-range) | $15,000 – $35,000 | Cosmetic refresh $8k–$15k; luxury $40k–$95k+. |
Add a 10–15% contingency on any renovation, and budget 8–15% of project value for pre-construction (design, engineering, council). Reno estimates should build up: structural shell → fit-out → upgrades to the existing home (re-plumbing/rewiring) → GST and fees.
Source: Archicentre Australia 2026 Cost Guide; Caulfield Krivanek — 2026 Home Renovation Cost Indicator; Industry renovation cost guides (2026).
52,201
dwellings commenced, +7.0% on the quarter
31,707
new houses, +11.6%
186,000–204,000 homes
projected shortfall vs the Housing Accord
June 2026 quarter (ABS, seasonally adjusted). The National Housing Accord targets 1.2 million homes by mid-2029 (National Housing Accord), needing ~262,140 homes a year — hence a projected shortfall of 186,000–204,000 homes. HIA expects detached home building to strengthen across most states through 2026–2028 — described as "steady, not explosive" — with land supply, labour and material costs the main constraints. Next ABS release: 13 January 2027 (September 2026 quarter).
Source: ABS Building Activity, Australia; Master Builders Australia; HIA economic research & forecasting.
The Cost Index publishes two layers: the official ABS average (completed homes — the trustworthy anchor) and the current market range (new 2026 tender rates from RLB/QS), with cost movement tracked by the Cordell Construction Cost Index. New-build $/m² reconciles the ABS volume anchor with RLB custom ranges. Renovation figures are national metro ranges from recognised cost guides. All figures are base build excluding land, site works, professional fees and GST unless stated; verified June 2026, next review October 2026.
Build Choices
The build and renovation decisions behind the cost ranges above, explained in plain English for SA and Victoria.
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