Construction cost calculator for Costa Rica
Find out in a minute what it may cost to build in Costa Rica by building type, finishes, size and location. This construction cost calculator uses the LDB Arquitectura price database and gives you a reference, not a budget.
What your project may cost and how long it may take
A cost and time reference built on the same price database the office uses for its budgets. It helps you see whether the idea fits what you plan to invest before design starts.
Let’s talk with these numbers on the table
+506 7079-6388
Email [email protected]
Five steps from idea to building
A figure for your lot and your project
The figure above is a general reference. To refine it, LDB reviews your case with a short professional service.
- Reading of the lot with the cadastral plan, photos and land use
- Preliminary space program with its areas
- Cost estimate with the office’s price database
- Permit route and timeline for your project
It is a professional service with a fee based on the current professional fee schedule. Write to us and we will tell you what we need to start.
Questions about fees, stages or permits? See the frequently asked questions.
Want to refine the figure with your lot and your program? Write to us on WhatsApp at +506 7079-6388 or at [email protected]. You can also see the projects by LDB Arquitectura or read the Observatorio Territorial.
Frequently asked questions about construction costs
How much does it cost per square meter to build a house in Costa Rica?
It depends on the finishes, the size and the location. With this calculator’s database as of September 2026, a house of about 160 m² with medium-high finishes in the Greater Metropolitan Area comes to about US$ 1,450 per square meter, including indirect costs and VAT. A house with economy finishes falls well below that and a luxury house well above.
What does the result include and what does it leave out?
It includes the cost of construction with the contractor’s overhead, profit and contingencies plus 13% VAT. Studies, design, permits and inspection are added separately, and furniture too if you check it. It does not include the land, special equipment, unusual earthworks or the particular conditions of your lot.
How do I go from this reference to a figure for my project?
The calculator works with averages and does not know your lot. To refine the figure, LDB Arquitectura offers an initial consultation where we review the cadastral plan, the land use and what you need. From there comes an estimate for your own project with the permit route and timeline. Write to us on WhatsApp or by email and we will tell you how to start.