Indiana vs Illinois
Side-by-side construction cost comparison for 2026. Building a 2,000 sq ft home in Indiana saves approximately $84,000.
More affordable for new construction
Indiana
$169/sq ft vs $211/sq ft — saves $84,000 on a 2,000 sq ft build
| Metric | Indiana | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 $/sq ft | $169 ✓ | $211 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $253,500 ✓ | $316,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $338,000 ✓ | $422,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $422,500 ✓ | $527,500 |
| Labor Index | 0.88 ✓ | 1.15 |
| Material Index | 0.92 ✓ | 1.09 |
| Avg Permit Cost | $2,000 ✓ | $3,000 |
| Median Home Price | $242,000 ✓ | $288,000 |
| Home Price YoY | +4.1% | +3.3% |
| Climate | Humid continental | Humid continental |
Indiana Notes
- ›Affordable labor market
- ›Cold winters need deep foundations
- ›Tornado risk in some areas
Illinois Notes
- ›Strong union labor market in Chicago
- ›Extreme temperature swings require robust systems
- ›Deep frost line for foundations
- ›Flat terrain simplifies grading
Cost by Home Size
| Size | Indiana | Illinois | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $84,500 | $105,500 | Indiana saves $21,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $169,000 | $211,000 | Indiana saves $42,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $253,500 | $316,500 | Indiana saves $63,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $338,000 | $422,000 | Indiana saves $84,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $422,500 | $527,500 | Indiana saves $105,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $507,000 | $633,000 | Indiana saves $126,000 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $676,000 | $844,000 | Indiana saves $168,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $845,000 | $1,055,000 | Indiana saves $210,000 |