🇦🇺 Australia · Construction cost guide · Updated 2026
How much does it cost to build an apartment block in Australia?
Building an apartment block in Australia typically costs $7,622,400 to $14,150,400 in construction cost — roughly $1,588–$2,948 per m² ($148–$274 per ft²) over 4,800 m² (51,667 ft²) of floor area. That excludes land, professional fees and statutory charges.
Australia is a high-cost construction market by global standards — it ranks 16 of 200 countries on our construction cost index, at about 108% of United States build costs. This page prices an apartment block — four floors, roughly 12–16 units, reinforced-concrete frame, common stair core — at 4800 m² of gross floor area, then breaks the cost down element by element so you can see where the money actually goes. Costs are quoted in USD for comparability; the local currency in Australia is AUD (A$), and a bill of quantities generated from your own drawings is priced in AUD using the ASMM6 standard.
What is being priced
The figures on this page price an apartment block in Australia at 4,800 m² (51,667 ft²) of gross floor area over 4 storeys, specified as four floors, roughly 12–16 units, reinforced-concrete frame, common stair core. Construction cost only — land, professional fees, statutory charges, utility connections and loose furniture are all excluded, and together commonly add another 15–30%.
Cost by specification level
| Specification | Construction cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Basic / low-cost finish | $5,488,128 – $10,188,288 |
| Standard finish | $7,622,400 – $14,150,400 |
| Premium finish | $11,052,480 – $20,518,080 |
Where the money goes
Elemental split of construction cost for an apartment block of this type. Percentages are concept-stage cost-planning proportions; the ranges below apply them to the totals above.
| Element | Share | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
Substructure Excavation, foundations and ground-floor slab. | 12% | $914,688 – $1,698,048 |
Structural frame & upper floors Columns, beams, suspended slabs, stairs and cores. | 24% | $1,829,376 – $3,396,096 |
Envelope — walls, windows & roof External walling, glazing, roof covering and waterproofing. | 19% | $1,448,256 – $2,688,576 |
Internal finishes & partitions Partitions, plaster, screeds, floor and ceiling finishes, painting. | 17% | $1,295,808 – $2,405,568 |
Services (MEP) Electrical, plumbing, drainage, HVAC and lifts — the biggest single risk on framed buildings. | 21% | $1,600,704 – $2,971,584 |
External works & preliminaries Site setup, supervision, paving, boundary and drainage outside the footprint. | 7% | $533,568 – $990,528 |
No drawings needed
Get a priced bill of quantities for your own house
The figures above are benchmarks for Australia. Tell us how big your build is and get the itemised version — every material and trade measured and priced in AUD, — without needing architectural drawings.
Building apartment blocks in Australia — frequently asked
How much does it cost to build an apartment block in Australia?
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Building an apartment block in Australia typically costs $7,622,400 to $14,150,400 in construction cost — roughly $1,588–$2,948 per m² ($148–$274 per ft²) over 4,800 m² (51,667 ft²) of floor area. That excludes land, professional fees and statutory charges. At a basic specification the same building lands nearer $5,488,128–$10,188,288; at a premium specification, $11,052,480–$20,518,080.
What is the cost per square metre in Australia?
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About $1,588–$2,948 per m² ($148–$274 per ft²) for this building type at a standard finish. Per-m² rates rise with storey height (frame, cores and cranage) and with specification, and fall on simple single-storey plans.
What is the biggest cost item?
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Structural frame & upper floors — about 24% of construction cost, or $1,829,376–$3,396,096 on this build. Columns, beams, suspended slabs, stairs and cores.
Does this include land, fees and furniture?
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No. These are construction costs only — materials, labour, plant and site preliminaries. Land, statutory approvals, professional fees, connections, landscaping and loose furniture are all additional, and together commonly add 15–30% on top.
How do I get an accurate figure for my own plans in Australia?
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Benchmarks give you the ballpark; a measured bill of quantities gives you the number. Upload your dimensioned floor plans to Enormous Buildings and get an itemised, source-cited BoQ in AUD in the ASMM6 format that Australia quantity surveyors and lenders expect — free to preview.
Why do build costs vary so much between countries?
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Three things dominate: labour cost, how much of the material basket is imported, and the code requirements the building must satisfy. Australia sits at index 108 against the United States at 100, which is why the figures above differ from what you'd see quoted for the same building elsewhere.
Other build costs in Australia
For contractors & quantity surveyors
Tendering in Australia every month?
A one-off bill suits a single project. If you tender regularly, a monthly plan brings the cost of each bill right down, with no card to re-enter each time.