Although the cost of building homes has accumulated a moderate increase of 1.88% between January and May, some key inputs for electrical and plumbing installations are registering increases that far exceed the sector average
SANTO DOMINGO.– The behavior of housing construction costs in the Dominican Republic during the first five months of 2026 reflects a moderate trend in general terms, but with varying pressures on strategic inputs that have set the pace of the market.
According to the monthly reports of the Direct Housing Construction Cost Index (ICDV), prepared by the National Statistics Office (ONE), the indicator rose from 237.42 points in January to 240.61 in May. PVC pipes and fittings led the price increases during the period, with rises of 7.14% in April and 9.51% in May. Overall, this represents a cumulative increase of 1.88% so far this year.
However, a detailed analysis of the data reveals that the increase has not been uniform. While some cost groups have shown relative stability, others have experienced more marked variations, especially those related to electrical, plumbing, and fuel installations.
A start to the year of progressive increases
The year began with a monthly increase of 0.53% in January, followed by 0.16% in February and 0.32% in March, according to the statistical bulletin.
April saw the largest increase of the period, with a 0.67% rise, bringing the index to 240.16 points. In May, growth moderated to 0.19%, although the indicator remained at its highest level within the analyzed period.
| Month | ICDV Index | Monthly variation |
| January | 237.42 | 0.53% |
| February | 237.80 | 0.16% |
| March | 238.57 | 0.32% |
| April | 240.16 | 0.67% |
| May | 240.61 | 0.19% |
PVC, fuels and electricity: the core of the price increases
The breakdown by components reveals that the largest increases are not concentrated in the overall index, but in specific inputs linked to facilities and finishes.
PVC pipes and fittings led the price increases for the period, rising 7.14% in April and 9.51% in May, becoming one of the strongest movements recorded within the ICDV in 2026.
Added to this behavior is that of fuels, which have maintained a constant upward trend, with variations of 2.70% in March, 5.38% in April and 3.49% in May, reflecting their transversal impact on the transport of materials and the operation of machinery.
In the case of electrical wires, the bulletins report sustained increases in different months of the year, with variations of 4.56% in January, 6.04% in February and 4.05% in April.
Increases were also recorded in electrical accessories (2.24% in May) and steel (3.46% in April), reinforcing the pressure in the technical installations segment.
Main inputs with the greatest impact in 2026
| Input | Months with reported variation | Outstanding behavior |
| PVC pipes and fittings | April (+7.14%), May (+9.51%) | Strong acceleration in the last two months |
| Fuels | March (+2.70%), April (+5.38%), May (+3.49%) | Sustained upward trend |
| Electric wires | January (+4.56%), February (+6.04%), April (+4.05%) | Recurring increases throughout the year |
| Electrical accessories | May (+2.24%) | One-off increase at the end of the period |
| Steels | April (+3.46%) | Relevant intermediate increase |
Materials: the only group with consistent increases
Unlike other components of the index, materials have shown continuous increases throughout the analyzed period.
The bulletin details variations of 1.26% in January, 0.17% in February, 0.72% in March, 1.37% in April and 0.77% in May, confirming sustained pressure on construction costs.
These movements are mainly associated with inputs related to electrical and plumbing installations, which continue to show high sensitivity to market changes.
Workforce stability and machinery corrections
In contrast, labor costs remained unchanged during the five months analyzed, making it the most stable component of the ICDV during this period.
Machinery, meanwhile, registered consecutive negative variations, with drops in January (-0.08%), February (-0.72%), March (-0.85%), April (-0.16%) and May (-0.52%), contributing to partially offsetting the increase in other items.
An index that is growing, but with focused pressures
Although the cumulative increase of 1.88% between January and May suggests a moderate behavior of the overall cost of construction, the data reveals a more complex reality: the pressure is concentrated on specific inputs that directly impact the key stages of the execution of works.
The behavior of PVC, fuels, and electrical materials is positioned as one of the main factors to watch in the evolution of the sector during the rest of the year, in a context where construction costs continue to be a key indicator for developers, builders, and home buyers.
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