Abraj Al Bait in Mecca tops this list at about US$15 billion, according to CNN. Marina Bay Sands follows at US$5.6 billion. Next are three projects around US$5 billion: Apple Park, SoFi Stadium and Grand Lisboa Palace.
These costs cover entire projects, from resort complexes to a corporate campus and a stadium. Like the most expensive cars, their prices need context: the headline total matters as much as what it includes.
How we ranked this
We compare reported project costs for open buildings and connected complexes developed under one name. We prefer owners' figures, then major news reports, and include integrated resorts, tower complexes, stadiums and headquarters campuses. These budgets can include land, financing, interest and pre-opening costs; they are not audited construction invoices or inflation-adjusted totals.
We exclude infrastructure, unopened projects, renovations, expansions, theme parks, multi-venue parks and districts of separately named buildings. That leaves out CityCenter, Resorts World Sentosa, Shanghai Disney Resort, Universal Beijing Resort and Kai Tak Sports Park. Masjid al-Haram is also excluded: Reuters' US$26.6 billion figure concerns expansion of the mosque and its surroundings.
When reported costs match or are about the same, we list the earlier opening first; this is display order, not a higher cost. Apple Park's estimate, SoFi's lower bound and Grand Lisboa Palace's converted figure do not establish which cost most.
Sands Cotai Central and Wynn Palace both have reported US$4.4 billion figures. One World Trade Center matches the Cosmopolitan's US$3.9 billion but opened later, so it appears in a note after number 10.
| No. | Building | Location | First opened | Reported cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abraj Al Bait | Mecca, Saudi Arabia | 2012 | About US$15 billion |
| 2 | Marina Bay Sands | Singapore | April 27, 2010 | US$5.6 billion |
| 3 | Apple Park | Cupertino, California, US | April 2017 | About US$5 billion (estimate) |
| 4 | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, California, US | September 8, 2020 | More than US$5 billion |
| 5 | Grand Lisboa Palace | Macau | July 30, 2021 | About US$5.0 billion (HK$39 billion) |
| 6 | Sands Cotai Central (now The Londoner Macao) | Macau | April 11, 2012 | US$4.4 billion |
| 7 | Wynn Palace | Macau | August 22, 2016 | US$4.4 billion |
| 8 | Resorts World Las Vegas | Las Vegas, US | June 24, 2021 | US$4.3 billion |
| 9 | Baha Mar | Nassau, Bahamas | April 21, 2017 | US$4.2 billion |
| 10 | The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas | Las Vegas, US | December 15, 2010 | US$3.9 billion |
10. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, US$3.9 billion
The Cosmopolitan cost a reported US$3.9 billion and first opened on December 15, 2010. Travel Weekly described excavation problems and repeated interior redesigns that helped push up the cost.
The Las Vegas resort even brought commissioned murals into its parking garages. Its opening-era cost is the figure used here, rather than a later sale price.
Also at US$3.9 billion: One World Trade Center in New York opened later, on November 3, 2014.
Its spire brings the tower to a symbolic 1,776 feet, recalling the year of American independence. For another view of these skylines, explore the cities with the most skyscrapers.
9. Baha Mar, Bahamas, US$4.2 billion
Baha Mar cost US$4.2 billion, the development cost stated in its own opening announcement. The Nassau resort opened in phases from April 21, 2017.
The first phase introduced Grand Hyatt accommodation, the casino and convention facilities, with more hotels following. The Grand Hyatt's twin towers were designed with 1,800 rooms, including 230 suites.
8. Resorts World Las Vegas, United States, US$4.3 billion
Resorts World Las Vegas opened on June 24, 2021, with a reported US$4.3 billion project cost. The figure covers the integrated resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
The development brought approximately 3,500 rooms under the Las Vegas Hilton, Conrad and Crockfords brands. It combines three hotel identities within one resort.
7. Wynn Palace, Macau, US$4.4 billion
Wynn Palace's final project budget reached US$4.4 billion after a 2016 agreement with its main contractor. That matches Sands Cotai Central's reported figure; the older resort appears first. The settlement raised the construction contract by US$300 million, separate from the total project budget.
The Cotai resort opened on August 22, 2016, with 1,706 rooms, suites and villas. Its SkyCab offers an elevated view of Performance Lake.
6. Sands Cotai Central, Macau, US$4.4 billion
Sands Cotai Central opened in phases from April 11, 2012, with a reported US$4.4 billion cost. The Associated Press used that figure in its opening coverage.
The development brought Conrad, Holiday Inn and Sheraton hotels to Cotai. It later became The Londoner Macao, with the Londoner Hotel opening in 2021. This ranking uses the original resort's reported cost and excludes the later conversion.
5. Grand Lisboa Palace, Macau, about US$5.0 billion
Grand Lisboa Palace cost about US$5.0 billion (HK$39 billion), based on SJM's reported project cost. We converted it at the ECB rate on July 30, 2021, when the resort first opened.
It was SJM's first integrated resort in Cotai and opened in phases. The main Grand Lisboa Palace hotel has a 1,350-room capacity; Palazzo Versace Macau and THE KARL LAGERFELD complete the three-hotel concept.
4. SoFi Stadium, United States, more than US$5 billion
SoFi Stadium cost more than US$5 billion, according to Guinness World Records. It opened in Inglewood on September 8, 2020, as the shared home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.
A double-sided video board hangs above the field, with screens covering about 70,000 square feet. SoFi sits in the about-US$5 billion group; its reported lower bound does not establish an exact tie.
3. Apple Park, United States, about US$5 billion
Apple Park's estimated US$5 billion cost covers the Cupertino campus, not just its circular main building. Apple has not confirmed that estimate; WIRED reported it during an on-site visit.
Employees began moving in during April 2017, while construction continued. The 175-acre site includes a 2.8-million-square-foot main building designed with Foster + Partners and the Steve Jobs Theater.
2. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, US$5.6 billion
Marina Bay Sands ranks second using Las Vegas Sands' US$5.6 billion figure for its original IR1 investment. The resort opened in phases from April 27, 2010, with the ArtScience Museum following in February 2011.
Its earlier budget was S$8 billion; the ranking uses the owner's later US-dollar account of the original investment. Subsequent redevelopment and expansion costs are excluded.
Three hotel towers support the SkyPark, creating the resort's unmistakable silhouette. The lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum stands beside them on the waterfront.
1. Abraj Al Bait, Saudi Arabia, about US$15 billion
Abraj Al Bait leads at about US$15 billion, according to CNN's 2013 report on the complex, which opened in 2012. The figure covers the tower complex beside Mecca's Grand Mosque.
Seven towers make up the development, with the central clock tower reaching 601 meters. Its scale makes it a landmark above the mosque, though the cost figure is a news report rather than an audited official account.
For a different comparison of monumental structures, see the world's tallest statues.
SourcesSources are linked throughout the article. The main sources are listed below.
- CNN Travel — Abraj Al Bait cost and completion (January 22, 2013; archived)
- Las Vegas Sands — Marina Bay Sands Investor Day (November 2024), original IR1 investment
- WIRED — Inside Apple Park (May 2017), estimated campus cost
- Guinness World Records — SoFi Stadium cost and opening
- SJM — Grand Lisboa Palace opening announcement (July 30, 2021)
- Wynn Resorts — Final Wynn Palace project budget, Form 8-K (October 31, 2016)
- Baha Mar — First-phase opening announcement (April 21, 2017)
