Electrical wires also showed significant growth at 5.55%, followed by PVC pipes and fittings, which increased by 1.35%.
SANTO DOMINGO. The Direct Housing Construction Cost Index (ICDV) registered an increase in October of this year, reaching an average of 239.28 points, which represents an increase of 3.43 points compared to September, when it stood at 235.84.
According to the monthly report provided by the National Statistics Office (ONE), from December 2024 to date the index showed an accumulated variation of 5.09%, reflecting an upward trend in direct construction costs.
Furthermore, when comparing the results of October 2025 with those of the same month in 2024, the ICDV showed a year-on-year growth of 5.14%, demonstrating a sustained increase in the last year.
Behavior by type of housing
The report explains that, by type of housing, the ICDV was 243.75 for the single-family home on one level, which showed one of the largest monthly variations within the analyzed group.
For the two-level single-family home, the index stood at 241.73, also above the overall average.
In the case of multi-family housing, the four-story building registered an ICDV of 234.36, while the eight-story or more building stood at 237.28, both reflecting increases compared to the previous month.
Monthly variations by type
The monthly variation by type shows an increase of 1.16% in single-family homes with one level and 1.36% in single-family homes with two levels.
In multifamily buildings, those with four levels showed an increase of 0.91%, while those with eight levels or more registered the largest variation of the month, with 2.41%.
These results show increasing pressure on construction costs, especially for taller buildings.
Building materials
According to the ONE, materials were the group with the greatest impact on the overall increase, registering a rise of 1.29% in October.
Within this group, steel showed the largest monthly increase with 21.71%, becoming the main driver of the index's rise.
Electrical wires also showed significant growth at 5.55%, followed by PVC pipes and fittings, which increased by 1.35%.
Similarly, both elevators and electric generators registered increases of 1.22%, contributing to the overall performance of the month.
Machinery, tools and labor
Machinery showed a moderate increase of 0.43%, contributing less to the overall rise in the index.
As for the tools, these showed an increase of 0.30%, remaining in line with the general trend of the sector.
Labor costs remained unchanged during the reference month, at 0.00%, according to the ONE report.
Subcontracts and recorded reductions
The subcontracting group was the only one to show a significant decrease, closing the month with a variation of -1.35%.
Within this category, boat subcontracting registered the most pronounced reduction, with -6.78%, followed by aggregates, which decreased by -4.05%.
Decreases were also observed in the group of wires, nails, zinc and others, with a variation of -2.28%, in addition to cements and glues, with -0.64%.
The flooring and ceramics segment closed the month with a negative variation, continuing the downward trend observed in previous months.
About the ICDV
The Direct Cost Index for Housing Construction (ICDV) is a statistical tool that allows us to know the monthly variations that the cost of construction experiences in four types of housing in the National District and the province of Santo Domingo.
