How much does it cost to build a data centre?

Data centre construction costs average $11.3M per megawatt in the US as of 2026, but range from $8M/MW in low-cost markets like Texas, Ohio, and Nevada to $14-18M/MW in premium markets like Northern Virginia and Silicon Valley. A 10 MW facility costs roughly $80-180M depending on location and specification. Key cost components: shell and core construction ($3-5M/MW), mechanical/cooling systems ($2-4M/MW), electrical/power distribution ($3-5M/MW), fire suppression and controls ($0.5-1M/MW). On top of construction, budget for land ($50K-500K/acre), utility interconnection ($1-10M+), permitting ($200K-2M), and design/engineering (5-8% of construction). Monthly construction starts in the US averaged $10.1 billion through early 2026 - a 600% increase over two years.