Ask five contractors in Lahore what it costs to build a house and you will get five different numbers. That is not because anyone is lying to you — it is because "cost to build" means different things depending on the quality of materials, the finishing level, and which stage of construction you are pricing.
As a rough starting point for 2026, budget around Rs 2,800–3,200 per square foot for grey structure only (foundation through roof, no plumbing fixtures, tiling, paint or fittings), Rs 3,800–4,500 per square foot for a standard semi-finished build, and Rs 5,000–6,500+ per square foot for a fully finished house with mid-to-premium fittings. A 10 marla (2,250 sq ft covered area, roughly) house finished to a standard quality therefore typically lands somewhere between Rs 85 lakh and Rs 1.1 crore all-in, though premium fittings, imported tiles, or an architect-heavy design can push that well past Rs 1.5 crore.
Four things move that number more than anything else. First, structure type — a load-bearing structure is cheaper than an RCC frame structure, but an RCC frame gives you more flexibility to modify or extend later. Second, steel and cement grade — sticking to a standard mix ratio like M15 for slabs and beams instead of over-specifying M20 everywhere saves real money without compromising safety. Third, finishing quality — tile and sanitary fittings alone can vary threefold between an economy and a premium spec. Fourth, and most overlooked, is site condition: a plot needing significant fill or a difficult water table adds cost before a single brick goes up.
If you want a number specific to your own plot size and quality tier rather than these city-wide averages, our free House Cost & BOQ Estimator walks through the same category-wise breakdown a contractor would quote you — structure, finishing, electrical, plumbing and more — based on your actual covered area.
Whatever number you land on, treat it as a planning budget, not a fixed quote. Get an itemized BOQ from your actual contractor before you break ground, and revisit it at the end of grey structure, since that is where the biggest swings in an estimate usually show up.