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Cost Calculator

Estimate construction cost for your project

Pick a building type and enter your gross floor area. The calculator gives a city-by-city total cost estimate based on the latest AIQS rates.

Pick a building type and enter an area to see estimated costs across all six cities.

The MCG SQM Rate Finder provides indicative construction cost benchmarks per square metre based on data from MCG Quantity Surveyors and the AIQS Building Cost Index, December 2025 edition.

The rates are indicative only. Actual construction costs vary depending on project-specific factors including design, site conditions, market conditions, procurement method, finishes and inclusions.

The rates are typically excluding GST and excluding professional fees, finance costs, authority charges and external works unless otherwise noted in the building type description.

For project-specific cost advice please consult a Certified Quantity Surveyor. MCG Quantity Surveyors prepares detailed cost plans, development application cost plans, and cost-to-complete reports tailored to individual projects.

How It Works

From building type to estimated cost in 3 steps

Australia's most-referenced construction cost benchmark, in calculator form.

1

Pick the building type

Search or filter the database of 70 Australian building types. Categories include accommodation, car parks, civic, educational, health, industrial, offices, recreational, residential, shopping and miscellaneous.

2

Compare cities

Each rate is broken down across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra so you can compare regional differences instantly.

3

Estimate total cost

Use the calculator at the top of the page to enter a gross floor area and see total construction cost across each city. Clean output you can drop into a feasibility study.

Browse All Rates

Construction cost per m² database

Search by name, filter by category, highlight cities to compare side-by-side.

Compare cities

FAQ

Common questions about construction cost per m²

Use these as a quick reference when working through a feasibility or cost plan.

Construction cost per square metre varies significantly by building type and city. As a benchmark, a standard residential house ranges from approximately $1,460/m² in Canberra to $1,840/m² in Sydney, while a CBD office tower can range from $4,270/m² in Canberra to $5,860/m² in Sydney. Use the rate finder for 70 building types across all six major capital cities.
The rates are sourced from MCG Quantity Surveyors and the AIQS Building Cost Index, December 2025 edition. The AIQS index is the industry-standard reference for Australian construction cost benchmarks and is published by the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
The rates are indicative benchmarks for budgeting and feasibility. Actual project costs vary based on design, site conditions, market conditions, procurement method, finishes and inclusions. For project-specific cost advice, MCG Quantity Surveyors can prepare a detailed cost plan tailored to your project.
City-by-city differences reflect labour availability, material supply chains, regulatory requirements, site access, scale of local market activity and the prevailing competitive environment. Sydney and Melbourne typically run higher than Adelaide or Canberra for most commercial typologies, but each building type has its own pattern.
The rates published in the AIQS Building Cost Index are typically excluding GST and excluding professional fees, finance costs and authority charges unless otherwise noted in the individual building type description.
The rates relate to the gross floor area (GFA) of the main building only. Car parking, landscaping, external works and authority charges are typically additional. Car park rates are listed separately so you can add them to your total.
Yes. MCG Quantity Surveyors prepare detailed cost plans, development application cost plans, cost-to-complete reports, progress claim certifications and quantity surveyor reports for residential, commercial and industrial projects across Australia. Get in touch for a tailored quote.
Talk To An Expert

Need a detailed construction cost plan?

For project-specific cost advice, MCG Quantity Surveyors prepares detailed cost plans, DA cost plans, cost-to-complete reports and progress certifications across Australia.

Request a Quote 1300 795 170
Nationwide Coverage

Offices Across Australia

Newcastle Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Canberra Adelaide