Construction Cost per m² in Turkey 2026: Official Unit Costs by Building Class

"How much does construction cost per square metre?" is the first question anyone planning to build in Turkey asks. The official answer is the approximate building unit costs published every year by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change — but these figures are often misread. This article explains the 2026 table, examples for schools and housing, and how the figures should be used in a budget.

Turkey's 2026 approximate building unit costs

The communiqué was published in the Official Gazette on 3 February 2026.

Which building belongs to which class?

Common examples from the list annexed to the communiqué:

• III-B (21,050 TL/m²): primary and middle schools, indoor sports halls up to 1,000 spectators, housing up to 21.5 m high.
• III-C (23,400 TL/m²): high schools, student dormitories, housing 21.5–30.5 m high.
• IV-A (26,450 TL/m²): universities and institutes, shopping centres up to 25,000 m², housing 30.5–51.5 m high, 1–2 star hotels.
• IV-B (33,900 TL/m²): banks, housing above 51.5 m, detached houses over 500 m².
• IV-C (40,500 TL/m²): courthouses, shopping centres over 25,000 m², hospitals up to 200 beds, 3-star hotels.

What these figures are — and are not — for

Approximate unit costs are official references used to calculate architectural and engineering fees, building permit charges and building inspection fees. They are also a common starting point in flat-for-land agreements and feasibility studies.

However, the official unit cost is not the real on-site construction budget. The main drivers of real cost are:

• Soil conditions and shoring/foundation solutions
• Number of basement and parking levels
• Facade system (clinker brick, composite, curtain wall)
• MEP systems and number of lifts
• Specification grade in the finishes schedule
• Construction period and financing cost

Worked example

A 6-storey residential building not exceeding 21.5 m with 2,400 m² of total construction area falls in group III-B:

2,400 m² × 21,050 TL/m² = 50,520,000 TL (official approximate cost)

This amount is the basis for official calculations such as permit charges and inspection fees. The real budget must be prepared separately by adding the items above.

Tips for planning cost correctly

• Build the feasibility item by item, not per m²: shell and core, finishes, MEP, facade and landscaping should be priced separately.
• Freeze the specification early: changes in material grade hit the budget fastest.
• Treat time as a cost item: every extra month means financing cost and price-escalation risk. ÇET Yapı's ability to complete school campuses of over 10,000 m² in 6 months is the result of this planning discipline.

Contact ÇET Yapı to prepare a realistic cost and schedule plan for your project.