Chapter 1. Basics of Country House Construction. One-storey or two-storey: which is more profitable to build.

One of the most frequent questions is: one floor or two? Each option has its arguments, and the right answer depends on budget, plot size, family composition and mobility. A 120 m² house as the reference.

Cost: a detailed comparison

The popular myth that “two floors are cheaper than one at the same area” is only partly true.

• Foundation: single-storey is 80 000–150 000 ₽ more expensive (larger perimeter)

• Roof: single-storey costs 150 000–250 000 ₽ more (150–160 m² vs 80–90 m²)

• Walls: two-storey has more wall area — 100 000–200 000 ₽ more

• Floor between levels: +120 000–200 000 ₽

• Staircase: 80 000–250 000 ₽ and 8–12 m² of usable area lost

At 120 m² costs are close — a 5–7% difference. No significant winner.

Plot size — the critical factor

Single-storey 120 m² — footprint ~11×11 m, needs 8–10 sotki with setbacks. Two-storey 120 m² — ~8×8 m, fits even 4–6 sotki.

At 100 000–300 000 ₽ per sotka (popular districts), 4 sotki difference = 400 000–1 200 000 ₽.

Heating

Single-storey loses more through floor and roof; two-storey through walls. Seasonal difference is only ~3 000 ₽ (60 000 ₽ over 20 years) — not decisive.

Comfort

When to choose which

A common middle ground is a 1.5-storey house with a mansard — bedrooms upstairs at a lower cost than a full second floor.

StroyInvest24 will help choose the right storey count and layout for your plot, budget and family.

See also

• Mansard or full second storey

• Turnkey house cost 2026

• Which material to build from

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