The most expensive building in the world is Abraj Al Bait in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at a reported construction cost of about $15 billion, and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore comes second at roughly $6.9 billion. This list ranks the 15 costliest single buildings and resort complexes we can document, by reported construction cost at the time they opened. Casino resorts dominate it, but a football stadium and a concert sphere now make the cut as well.
| Rank | Building | Location | Reported cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abraj Al Bait | Mecca, Saudi Arabia | $15 billion |
| 2 | Marina Bay Sands | Singapore | $6.9 billion |
| 3 | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, USA | $5.5 billion |
| 4 | Resorts World Sentosa | Singapore | $5.0 billion |
| 5 | Resorts World Las Vegas | Las Vegas, USA | $4.3 billion |
| 6 | Wynn Palace | Macau | $4.1 billion |
| 7 | The Cosmopolitan | Las Vegas, USA | $3.9 billion |
| 8 | One World Trade Center | New York, USA | $3.9 billion |
| 9 | Fontainebleau Las Vegas | Las Vegas, USA | $3.7 billion |
| 10 | Emirates Palace | Abu Dhabi, UAE | $3.0 billion |
| 11 | Wynn Las Vegas | Las Vegas, USA | $2.7 billion |
| 12 | The Venetian Macao | Macau | $2.4 billion (est.) |
| 13 | City of Dreams | Macau | $2.4 billion (est.) |
| 14 | Sphere | Las Vegas, USA | $2.3 billion |
| 15 | Princess Tower | Dubai, UAE | $2.2 billion (est.) |
What we left out. We exclude multi-decade expansion programs such as the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, and projects still under construction such as the ITER fusion machine in France, whose research operations are now scheduled for 2034. Costs are shown in nominal dollars from the opening year, not adjusted for inflation, so the order reflects what each owner actually paid.
1. Abraj Al Bait, Saudi Arabia: $15 billion
The Abraj Al Bait complex beside the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca opened in stages and was substantially complete in 2012. Its main tower, home to the Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower hotel, rises 601 meters across 120 floors and carries the largest clock face in the world.
The $15 billion figure is the widely reported cost of the whole complex, and no other single building comes close.
How we valued it: nominal dollars at completion, using the budget quoted for the whole complex.
2. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore: $6.9 billion
Designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 2010, Marina Bay Sands is the casino resort of three 55-story hotel towers topped by the SkyPark and its infinity pool. Las Vegas Sands owns it.
It cost about S$8 billion, roughly US$6.9 billion, at opening, and earlier budget figures of around $5.5 billion are also quoted. We use the higher opening-cost figure.
How we valued it: reported Singapore dollar cost at opening, converted to US dollars.
3. SoFi Stadium, USA: $5.5 billion
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, opened in 2020 as the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. Reports call it the costliest stadium ever built, which puts a sports venue on this list. The initial estimate was around $2.7 billion before costs climbed.
Published costs range from about $5 billion to $6 billion, and $5.5 billion is the figure most often cited.
How we valued it: the commonly cited total, inside a published $5 billion to $6 billion range.
4. Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore: $5.0 billion
This 2010 resort on Sentosa Island combines Universal Studios Singapore, a casino, an oceanarium and several hotels. Genting operates it.
The reported cost at opening was S$6.59 billion, which works out to about US$5.0 billion, the figure we use.
How we valued it: reported Singapore dollar cost at opening, converted to US dollars.
5. Resorts World Las Vegas, USA: $4.3 billion
Resorts World Las Vegas opened on the Strip in June 2021 after years of delay. The newest big Genting project, it was the priciest resort on the Strip at its opening.
Its final price tag of $4.3 billion makes it the most expensive new-build resort in Las Vegas to date, ahead of the Cosmopolitan.
How we valued it: final project cost at opening.
6. Wynn Palace, Macau: $4.1 billion
Wynn Palace opened on the Cotai Strip on August 22, 2016. Its Performance Lake and SkyCab gondola ride are the signature attractions.
That makes it the priciest resort in Macau, ahead of the Venetian Macao and City of Dreams.
How we valued it: total projected budget before opening, including land and financing costs.
7. The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas: $3.9 billion
The Cosmopolitan opened in 2010 after a troubled development. The tower has more than 50 floors and houses restaurants, theaters and the Marquee nightclub.
How we valued it: final project cost as widely quoted.
8. One World Trade Center, New York: $3.9 billion
One World Trade Center opened in 2014 and stands 541 meters tall, symbolically 1,776 feet, with a top floor numbered 104. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey built it.
The tower is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere and the only office building in the middle of the ranking.
How we valued it: construction cost estimate of about $3.9 billion for the tower alone, excluding the wider site.
9. Fontainebleau Las Vegas, USA: $3.7 billion
Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened in December 2023 after sitting unfinished for more than a decade. The project went through bankruptcy and changed hands before it was completed.
Its cost depends on what is counted. We use the reported $3.7 billion total, noting that earlier estimates for completion were lower.
How we valued it: total cost, with lower completion-only estimates treated as a floor.
10. Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi: $3.0 billion
Emirates Palace opened in 2005 and, at a reported $3 billion, is set in extensive landscaped grounds with a long private beach. The Abu Dhabi government built it as a showpiece hotel.
How we valued it: long-quoted construction budget of about $3 billion for the hotel, which we treat as approximate.
11. Wynn Las Vegas, USA: $2.7 billion
Wynn Las Vegas opened in 2005 and is owned by Wynn Resorts. The property spans a large resort campus with a golf course, theater, shopping and dining.
How we valued it: project cost quoted at opening.
12. The Venetian Macao: about $2.4 billion
The Venetian Macao opened on August 28, 2007, and is owned by Las Vegas Sands. Its indoor canals and gondolas replicate Venice, and the complex includes the Paiza Suites, the Cotai Arena and a large shopping mall.
How we valued it: our estimate of the opening cost of the first phase, in the neighborhood of $2.4 billion.
13. City of Dreams: about $2.4 billion
City of Dreams opened on June 1, 2009, and is operated by Melco Resorts & Entertainment. It houses the Grand Hyatt, the Morpheus hotel designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, and the Dancing Water Theatre.
How we valued it: our estimate of the opening cost, in the neighborhood of $2.4 billion.
14. Sphere, Las Vegas: $2.3 billion
Sphere opened in September 2023 as a spherical entertainment venue with a huge LED interior screen. Its budget roughly doubled from early plans of $1.2 billion.
No other entertainment venue in the Las Vegas valley cost more, and it is the newest entry here.
How we valued it: final cost, with a $2.2 billion alternate tally noted.
15. Princess Tower, Dubai: about $2.2 billion
Princess Tower in Dubai Marina rises 414 meters and 101 floors, and finished in 2012. It was the world’s tallest residential building until 2015.
No official cost is published, so the roughly $2.2 billion figure is our estimate based on long-circulated reports, and we rank it last.
How we valued it: Alux estimate, roughly $2.2 billion.
Keep reading
- the 15 best gambling cities in the world: where most of the casino resorts on this list are located
- the world’s most expensive cities: where property values are highest today
- the most expensive yachts ever built: another ultra-high-cost category
FAQ
What is the most expensive building in the world?
Abraj Al Bait in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at a reported cost of about $15 billion. Its main tower is 601 meters tall.
How much does the number one building cost compared with number two?
Abraj Al Bait at $15 billion costs more than twice as much as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, which comes second at roughly $6.9 billion.
What is the most expensive building in the United States?
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood at a reported $5.5 billion is the costliest, followed by Resorts World Las Vegas at $4.3 billion.
What is new on the list compared with earlier years?
SoFi Stadium, Resorts World Las Vegas, Wynn Palace, Fontainebleau Las Vegas and Sphere are new entries, replacing the Palazzo, Antilia, Taipei 101, Bellagio and Australia’s Parliament House.
Why are so many of the buildings casino resorts?
Integrated resorts bundle hotels, casinos, malls and theaters into one project, and operators in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore have spent billions on each.
Are the costs adjusted for inflation?
No. We show reported construction cost in nominal dollars from the opening year, so older buildings look cheaper than they would in 2026 money.
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
For this list the inputs are reported construction budgets, final project costs and developer announcements, taken in the currency of the opening year and converted to dollars. Where tallies disagree we use the more widely reported figure and say so.
Last updated: October 2026.
