North Dakota vs South Dakota
Side-by-side construction cost comparison for 2026. Building a 2,000 sq ft home in South Dakota saves approximately $16,000.
More affordable for new construction
South Dakota
$165/sq ft vs $173/sq ft — saves $16,000 on a 2,000 sq ft build
| Metric | North Dakota | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 $/sq ft | $173 | $165 ✓ |
| 1,500 sq ft | $259,500 | $247,500 ✓ |
| 2,000 sq ft | $346,000 | $330,000 ✓ |
| 2,500 sq ft | $432,500 | $412,500 ✓ |
| Labor Index | 0.90 | 0.86 ✓ |
| Material Index | 0.94 | 0.90 ✓ |
| Avg Permit Cost | $2,000 | $1,900 ✓ |
| Median Home Price | $282,000 ✓ | $288,000 |
| Home Price YoY | +2.8% | +3.5% |
| Climate | Semi-arid continental | Semi-arid continental |
North Dakota Notes
- ›Extreme cold winters
- ›Very deep frost line
- ›Oil boom areas have higher costs
- ›Short build season
South Dakota Notes
- ›Low cost market
- ›Extreme temperature swings
- ›Deep frost line in north
- ›Remote areas add costs
Cost by Home Size
| Size | North Dakota | South Dakota | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $86,500 | $82,500 | South Dakota saves $4,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $173,000 | $165,000 | South Dakota saves $8,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $259,500 | $247,500 | South Dakota saves $12,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $346,000 | $330,000 | South Dakota saves $16,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $432,500 | $412,500 | South Dakota saves $20,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $519,000 | $495,000 | South Dakota saves $24,000 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $692,000 | $660,000 | South Dakota saves $32,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $865,000 | $825,000 | South Dakota saves $40,000 |