Rachel Cruze Breaks Down the 10 Cheapest States To Build a House

There are pros and cons to building a house. Among the pros: You can customize most every detail and won’t be signing up for costly renovations since you’re starting from scratch. As for the cons, you can expect a time-consuming project and a process that can cost you more than buying a house that is already standing.

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If the pros outweigh the cons and you decide to embark on building your own house, it’s good to know which states are the cheapest for doing so. In a recent blog post on Ramsey Solutions called “How Much Does It Cost to Build a House?” financial expert Rachel Cruze dug into data to pinpoint the 10 cheapest states to build a house. Cruze used research from Today’s Homeowner to assemble her list.

These are the 10 cheapest states to build a house in 2024 — and what the housing market looks like in each, average-value-wise — along with the cost of living in each state, as compared to the national average .

Tennessee

• Price per square foot: $144
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $302,204

In Tennessee, the cost of living is 10% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 18% lower, according to RentCafe. As of Sept. 5, 2024, the average home value in Tennessee is $326,084, per Zillow.

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South Dakota

• Price per square foot: $144
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $301,739

The cost of living in South Dakota is 7% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 12% lower, according to RentCafe. The average South Dakota home value is $311,866, according to Zillow as of Sept. 5, 2024.

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South Carolina

• Price per square foot: $143
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $301,079

In South Carolina, the cost of living is 6% lower than the national average, according to RentCafe, and the cost of housing is 21% lower. As of Sept. 5, 2024, the average home value in South Carolina is $300,746, per Zillow.

Oklahoma

• Price per square foot: $143
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $300,673

The cost of living in Oklahoma is 12% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 27% lower, according to RentCafe. The average Oklahoma home value is $208,910, per Zillow, as of Sept. 5, 2024.

Florida

• Price per square foot: $142
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $297,228

In Florida, the cost of living is 2% lower than the national average, and housing costs are on par with the national average, according to RentCafe. The average home value in Florida, per Zillow, is $399,130 as of Sept. 5, 2024.

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North Carolina

• Price per square foot: $141
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $297,062

The cost of living in North Carolina is 5% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 14% lower, according to RentCafe. The average North Carolina home value is $335,760, according to Zillow as of Sept. 5, 2024.

Louisiana

• Price per square foot: $141
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $296,107

In Louisiana, the cost of living is 9% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 18% lower, per RentCafe. The average home value in Louisiana, according to Zillow as of Sept. 5, 2024, is $205,610.

Alabama

• Price per square foot: $139
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $291,397

The cost of living in Alabama is 12% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 38% lower, according to RentCafe. The average Alabama home value is $232,529 as of Sept. 5, 2024, according to Zillow.

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Arkansas

• Price per square foot: $137
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $288,175

The cost of living in Arkansas is 8% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 23% lower, according to RentCafe. The average Arkansas home value is $210,371 as of Sept. 5, 2024, according to Zillow.

Mississippi

• Price per square foot: $137
• Total price for a 2,100-square-foot house spec, excluding the cost of land plot and development: $287,670

The cheapest state to build a home is Mississippi, where the cost of living is 13% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 29% lower, according to RentCafe. Per Zillow, as of Sept. 5, 2024, the average Mississippi home value is $183,340.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Rachel Cruze Breaks Down the 10 Cheapest States To Build a House