Mass-scale new buildings began to "catch up" with the business class in terms of price

In Moscow, the price gap between the average cost of mass-market and business-class new buildings is narrowing. In January 2026, developers of standard- and comfort-class residential complexes in old Moscow offered a square meter at a price of 418 thousand rubles, which was 77% of the average cost of a "square" in new business-class buildings. On February 20, analysts at SIS Development told Izvestia about this.

Experts conducted market research by analyzing the cost ratio of mass-market and business—class new buildings, two main market sectors that have been competing for buyers with similar budgets for many years.

They calculated the proportion of the average cost per square meter in the mass segment of the same indicator in the business class, and compared these data over the past nine years.
The study showed that in January 2026, the price gap between these two segments was the lowest in nine years.

It was clarified that the average cost per square meter in massive new buildings was 418 thousand rubles. In new business class buildings, the "square" was offered on average for 542 thousand rubles. Thus, the price of a meter in the mass segment reached 77% of the same indicator in the business class.

They noted the fact that a year ago, in January 2025, the average cost per square meter in massive new buildings was 329 thousand rubles, which at that time was 71% of the average price in business class — then it was at the level of 464 thousand rubles per square meter.

It turned out that over the previous nine years, the cost of new buildings in the mass segment and business class had been converging and then diverging again. The last time before the current minimum, prices were closest in November 2023. At that time, the average price per square meter in massive new buildings was 328 thousand rubles, which is 75% of the business class indicator, which was 439 thousand rubles per square meter.
The most noticeable price gap between the two segments over the past nine years was recorded in November 2022. At that time, the average cost per square meter in massive new buildings was 264 thousand rubles, which was 62% of the average price in business class, which reached 423 thousand rubles per square meter.

"The price dynamics in both massive new buildings and business class is unprecedented. The quality level and sophistication of modern comfort-class new buildings are growing, which basically determines the price increase. But we should also keep in mind the structural factors that influence the cost growth," explained Yaroslav Gutnov, founder of SIS Development.

He said that over the past year they have been actively observing how the most affordable apartments in massive new buildings are being quickly sold up on the market, and that this situation is becoming a challenge for buyers of such new buildings.

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Analysts at Metrium, who conducted market research in the region on February 18, reported that the number of real estate transactions in the Moscow Region fell by 44% in January. According to their data, a total of 4.6 thousand equity participation agreements were registered (-44% per month), 82 transactions were registered with apartments, 4.5 thousand with apartments. At the same time, over the year, the DDU growth amounted to 38%.

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