How Much More Expensive is a Two Storey House?
This is a question we get asked regularly, and it is a slightly complicated answer. Read on to find out how much more expensive a two storey house really is.
Why Build a Double Storey Home?
When it comes to purchasing or building a home, there are many things to consider. Location, square metres, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and whether or not you want a backyard are all important factors. But one of the most important deciding factors for many homebuyers is whether to opt for a single or double storey home.
A single storey house might be easier to maintain and live in, but a two storey house is often seen as more luxurious, especially in Perth. So, how much more expensive is a two storey house, really?
How Much More Expensive is a Two Storey House in Perth?
The answer, unfortunately, is that it depends. The price difference between a single storey and two storey home varies depending on the location, size, and amenities of the property.
According to industry experts and data from the building association Master Builders of Western Australia, the upper floor areas will be more expensive, due to engineers, scaffolding, stairs and other costs that are not required when building a single storey home.
Assuming that most 2 storey homes will have more living space on the ground floor than on the second floor you can roughly expect to pay 15-25% more for a double storey home compared with a single storey house of the same size. In other words if you are building a single storey home of 300 square meters for $450,000 you would expect a two storey home of the same size to cost between $520,000 and $560,000.
When purchasing an existing home you might be able to find a two storey house that’s only slightly more expensive than a single storey house in the same area. If you are building a new home the costs for the second storey will be higher than the construction cost for the ground floor.
If you take the homes on our website as an example, you can see that our single storey homes are generally priced between $400,000 to $600,000 and our two storey homes, which generally have more living space, are priced from $500,000 to $800,000 (prices as at November 2022).
In Summary
So there you have it—the cost of purchasing a two storey home varies depending on location but in general you can expect to pay 15-25% more than you would for a comparable single storey home.
Whether or not that premium is worth it is up to you! If you’re set on purchasing a two storey home then be sure to keep this information in mind when budgeting for your dream home.