San Francisco has overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most expensive city for construction, according to a new report from Turner & Townsend.
The cost for construction in San Francisco is $439.29 per square foot. North America had four markets in the top 10. New York City ranked fourth, Boston ranked eighth, and Los Angeles ranked ninth.
Cost increases in North America were due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, higher building material costs driven by supply chain disruptions, and high labor costs. The report found that 38.6% of markets surveyed were classified as “hot” (28.4%) or “overheating” (10.2%). These markets have conditions that risk acting as a brake on development. This is an increase of 10% over 2021, while the number of “cold” markets fell from six to one.
The rankings with the price per square foot, according to the report, are:
- San Francisco $439.29
- Tokyo $433.37
- Osaka, Japan $423.49
- New York City $419.67
- Geneva $402.47
- Zurich $398.16
- Hong Kong $393.58
- Boston $371.46
- Los Angeles $369.92
- London $363.23
Related Stories
Building Team | Jul 17, 2024
Registration open! 2024 Women in Residential+Commercial Construction Conference, September 18-20, Phoenix
This annual conference gathers 300+ women in construction for three transformative and education-rich days packed with industry speakers, AIA-accredited sessions, breakout education tracks, roundtable discussions, panels, and networking events.
Building Team | Jul 3, 2024
So you want to get published: What’s next?
In the AEC industry, securing media attention is no longer a niche endeavor but an essential component of a holistic marketing strategy.
Building Team | Apr 30, 2024
Building Design+Construction wins a 2024 Jesse H. Neal Award for editorial excellence
The editors of Building Design+Construction and Multifamily Pro+ were honored last week with a 2024 Jesse H. Neal Award for editorial excellence for their work on the “2023 Multifamily Annual Report.” The 76-page special report, published last October, won the Neal Award for Best Subject-Related Package.
Engineers | Sep 8, 2023
Secrets of a structural engineer
Walter P Moore's Scott Martin, PE, LEED AP, DBIA, offers tips and takeaways for young—and veteran—structural engineers in the AEC industry.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2023
Top 75 Engineering Firms for 2023
Kimley-Horn, WSP, Tetra Tech, Langan, and IMEG head the rankings of the nation's largest engineering firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Building Team | Aug 28, 2023
Navigating challenges in construction administration
Vessel Architecture's Rebekah Schranck, AIA, shares how the demanding task of construction administration can be challenging, but crucial.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
2023 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
A record 552 AEC firms submitted data for BD+C's 2023 Giants 400 Report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Senior Living Design | Aug 7, 2023
Putting 9 senior living market trends into perspective
Brad Perkins, FAIA, a veteran of more than four decades in the planning and design of senior living communities, looks at where the market is heading in the immediate future.
Resiliency | Jul 27, 2023
'Underground climate change' can damage building foundations, civil infrastructure
A phenomenon known as “underground climate change” can lead to damage of building foundations and civil infrastructure, according to a researcher at Northwestern University. When the ground gets hotter, it can expand and contract, causing foundations to move and sometimes crack.
Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Jul 12, 2023
Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings [AIA course]
Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.
