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You’ve been collecting photos of your dream kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and perfect layout. You’ve weighed the pros and cons of building and buying in Hawaii. And you decided to build!

But how much does it cost to build a home in Hawaii? What are the unexpected expenses?

Pat Bader, owner of Hawaii Kai-based Acumen Builders Ltd., has been remodeling and building homes in Hawaii for nearly three decades, seeing homes go from foundation nails to luxury homes.

Lex Allen, owner of Solid Build Construction, Inc. , based in Kapolei, has built custom homes, additions and decks, and completed complete remodels including kitchens and bathrooms throughout Oahu.

With many years of experience in the homebuilding industry, Pat and Lex kindly offer advice to future home builders in Hawaii.

What is the average price per square foot to build a home in Hawaii?

According to Ryder Levett Bucknell, an international leader in the construction industry, the costs of home construction in Honolulu are as follows:

Single Family House

• Low (per square foot) — $290.
• High (per square foot) — $780.

Apartment house

• Low (per square foot) — $205.
• High (per square foot) — $455.

Prices may vary depending on whether you hire a general contractor or go the owner-builder route. By asking for prices from various contractors and friends, we found the low average cost of a single-family home to be around $250 per square foot.

How much does it cost to build a kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom or master bedroom in Hawaii?

While there are many variables when building a room, the following table provides basic, low, no-customization costs for a typical room construction on Oahu:

Cost by number

• Kitchen — minimum $25,000.
• Bathroom — minimum $15,000.
• Living room — minimum $125 per square foot.
• Bedroom — minimum $125 per square foot.
• Master bedroom — minimum $125 per square foot.

What are some additional upgrade costs that people might consider?

“Upgrades typically add 10 to 15 percent to the base cost. Some updates will add even more. There are many different upgrades that people consider during the home building process:

• Household appliances such as refrigerators, hoods, dishwashers, ovens, washing machines and dryers. Different brands, materials and features have different prices. Budget appliances usually have white glass and are made by brands such as Kenmore or Whirlpool. Kenmore and Whirlpool have a number of options, including more luxurious stainless steel appliances. Brands such as Bosch, Viking, Sub-Zero, and KitchenAid are generally considered higher-end appliances and cost more.
• Flooring. Many companies produce economy class parquet with a certain millimeter and a luxury model with a thicker type of coating. Sometimes companies additionally include underlayment materials such as soundproofing and waterproofing. Interlocking floors, such as the now popular vinyl and laminate flooring, are typically thicker and have a higher cost. There are expensive luxury vinyl interlocking systems that are sometimes even comparable in price to the typically most expensive flooring options—exotic hardwoods and travertine tiles.