Construction costs in Denver increased 4.55% year over year in Q3 2026, according to Rider Levett Bucknall’s latest Quarterly Construction Cost Report.
Denver recorded the second-highest annual cost growth among the five major markets listed in RLB’s Central Region, behind Minneapolis at 4.78%. Austin recorded a 4.36% increase, followed by Dallas at 3.84% and Chicago at 1.74%.
RLB describes construction activity across the Central region as a “strong, split landscape,” with steady baseline growth alongside rising activity in specialized sectors. The region’s momentum is being supported by large-scale digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing projects.
Nationally, data center project activity increased 57.2% year over year, helping drive a 21.3% increase in private office construction values while offsetting broader cooling in commercial construction. RLB says the varied market conditions make localized cost planning and early trade engagement increasingly important for securing labor availability.
Download the full report here.
