Latvian couple build 25 m² cabin: materials cost €14,300

Anastasija and her husband, who live in Latvia, built a small dwelling of just 25 square metres this year. They kept careful records of their spending and compared it with an estimate they had first asked an artificial intelligence tool to prepare. The result offers a practical look at what a small self-built house costs today, and at how inaccurate automated estimates can be. The couple did all the work themselves, so they paid no labour costs.

Forecast versus reality

The AI had said the cabin could be built for less than 10,000 euros. Actual costs ran higher in almost every category:

• post foundations: €230, which was €170 cheaper than forecast;
• floor structure: €1,060, which was €400 more;
• timber frame and partition walls: €2,000, which was €750 over;
• roof: €2,930, because the AI had counted only the roofing itself and not the frame, membrane, battens, gutters and screws;
• wall materials (OSB boards and insulation): €1,150, which was €400 over;
• electrics and plumbing: €1,020, which was €610 over;
• facade materials: €2,150, since wind boards, paint, nails and other small items added up;
• windows and doors: €1,550, which was €165 over, because they later decided to add another window;
• interior finishing: €850, which was €470 over.

A terrace was not in the original plan. The couple decided to add it later, and it cost €1,000.

Overall result

Materials alone cost €14,300 in total. A further €360 went on renting some tools and on thank-you gifts for people who helped. The AI forecast was exceeded by €6,300. The couple conclude that building by yourself keeps costs relatively manageable, but that important decisions should not rest on AI calculations alone. In their social media post they also stress that they did not build the house to this budget and offer the figures only as a reference point for others.