18 Cities Where You’ll Pay Less To Build a New Home Than Buy an Existing One

ANNVIPS / Getty Images/iStockphoto
ANNVIPS / Getty Images/iStockphoto

In numerous cities around the country, new construction homes are more affordable than existing homes based on cost per square foot, a recent Zillow study found.

According to the study, in the U.S. as a whole, new homes have been selling for an average of $3.50 less per square foot than existing homes as of May, the largest discount in at least six years. In some cities, the discount is even greater, with the top three cities offering discounts of over $50 per square foot for new homes versus existing homes.

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Here’s a look at all of the major cities where it’s cheaper to buy a new construction home than an existing one.

Art Wager / Getty Images
Art Wager / Getty Images

San Diego

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $57.10

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f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto
f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Salt Lake City

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $53.60

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frankpeters / Getty Images
frankpeters / Getty Images

Los Angeles

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $52.40

f11photo / Shutterstock.com
f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Austin, Texas

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $48.30

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto
SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Washington

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $48.10

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ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com
ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com

Tampa, Florida

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $40.80

Kruck20 / iStock.com
Kruck20 / iStock.com

Phoenix

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $30.90

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Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Sacramento, California

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $26.20

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Raleigh, North Carolina

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $25.90

Stephen Batiz / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Stephen Batiz / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Riverside, California

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $19.80

welcomia / Shutterstock
welcomia / Shutterstock

Denver

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $17.30

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benedek / Getty Images
benedek / Getty Images

Dallas

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $9.90

Long_Strange_Trip_01 / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Long_Strange_Trip_01 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Portland, Oregon

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $7.60

digidreamgrafix / Getty Images/iStockphoto
digidreamgrafix / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Nashville, Tennessee

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $7.10

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Indianapolis

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $5.10

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Kruck20 / iStock.com
Kruck20 / iStock.com

Orlando, Florida

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $2.60

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $2

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

San Antonio

  • Price per square foot discount for new homes compared to existing homes: $1.30

Data is sourced from Zillow and is accurate as of May 2024.

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