If you’re wondering if it’s cheaper to build or buy a house, the answer may be surprising when it comes to shipping container houses. While these homes are attractive from a sustainability standpoint, they’re also excellent to consider from a price standpoint.
Here are some cost-related factors to think about:
At its most basic level, building a shipping container home is one of the cheapest ways to build a house. Expect to pay about $2,000 – $8,000 for a single container. This cost fluctuates depending on several factors, such as the quality of the container and supply and demand. If you want a high cube container, which adds a foot of height, expect to pay more. If you live near a port, your costs might skew lower.
While the prices are lower for DIYers, it’s essential to remember that you’re buying just the container itself. You’ll have other costs associated with making your container into a livable home.
If DIY isn’t your thing, a prefabricated shipping container home might be more on your level. You’ll pay more than you would for an empty container, but you won’t have to incur all the expenses (and time spent) of building your home from scratch.
As with any kind of home, prices vary, depending on the level of customization you desire. Buying a prebuilt shipping container home can start around $33,000 for a basic container and increase as you add more features. While it’s more expensive than buying an empty container, it’s still lower than a standard home.
Regardless of whether your new home is a DIY project or a prefab unit, you’ll need to consider the costs associated with your home’s placement. Will you be adding it to a property you already own, or do you need to buy or rent land? Land costs vary wildly from area to area, so it’s something to keep in mind.
You’ll also have to make sure that the area you’re building your home on has a well-suited foundation. Otherwise, you’ll need to add excavation services to your budget.
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