Elevators registered the largest monthly growth, at 3.80%
Santo Domingo.– Direct costs associated with housing construction in the Metropolitan Region experienced a year-on-year increase of 6.42% in September 2026, according to the results of the latest report released by the National Statistics Office (ONE), corresponding to that period.
In this sense, the indicator serves as a benchmark for evaluating price fluctuations of the main elements used in building construction, including materials, labor, tools, machinery, and subcontracts. It also allows for monitoring the evolution of expenses related to this economic activity.
The index shows a monthly variation of 0.09%
According to figures from the Housing Construction Direct Cost Index (ICDV), the indicator stood at 251.03 points during September 2026, compared to 250.81 points recorded in August. Therefore, the difference was 0.22 points, equivalent to an approximate monthly growth of 0.09%.
Furthermore, the cumulative performance between December 2025 and September 2026 reflected an increase of 6.28%. In turn, the year-on-year variation of 6.42% allows us to understand the price increase experienced by inputs and services related to residential construction over the last 12 months.
Tools and machinery lead the price increases
According to the report, tools led the monthly increases, with a variation of 2.86%. Machinery came in second, with a value increase of 0.37%, while subcontracts experienced a more moderate advance of 0.04%.
In contrast, labor costs remained unchanged in September, registering a 0.00% variation. Meanwhile, materials showed a decrease of 0.19%.
This behavior reflects an uneven evolution among the different components of construction activity. While tools and equipment saw increases, other elements maintained their previous levels or experienced decreases. Consequently, the pressure on a project's budget can vary depending on the resources required for its execution.
Elevators show an increase of 3.80%
Among the subgroups analyzed, elevators registered the highest monthly growth, at 3.80%. Next were tools, at 2.86%, and fuels, whose price increased by 2.31%.
However, not all components followed this trend. Electrical miscellaneous items experienced a 6.52% drop, the steepest decline among the subgroups highlighted in the report. Similarly, wires, nails, and other similar items saw a 2.43% decrease.
These fluctuations highlight the differences between the resources involved in housing construction. However, it should be noted that individual percentage variations do not, by themselves, determine their impact on the overall index result, since the weighting assigned to each component within the cost structure also plays a role.
Variations according to the type of housing
The ICDV also distinguishes cost behavior according to the type of residential building. For September 2026, the recorded values were as follows: single-family homes with one level, 261.30 points; single-family homes with two levels, 253.21 points; multi-family homes with four levels, 245.48 points; and multi-family homes with eight or more levels, 244.15 points.
Based on these results, it can be seen that single-family homes with one level achieved the highest value, with 261.30 points. In contrast, multi-family buildings with eight or more levels had the lowest score, with 244.15 points.
Overall, the figures reveal differences in cost behavior depending on the characteristics of each residential project. Therefore, monitoring this indicator provides a benchmark for analyzing the sector's evolution and understanding how variations in its components can affect the planning and execution of new projects.
