---
title: "BuildCostIndex.com — Statutory & Financial Comparison Matrices (https://buildcostindex.com/compare)"
source_url: "https://buildcostindex.com/compare"
canonical_url: "https://buildcostindex.com/compare"
retrieved_by: "BuildCostIndex.com Statutory Markdown Engine (https://buildcostindex.com/compare)"
---

# BuildCostIndex.com — Side-by-Side Statutory Comparison Hub

> **Canonical Source:** [https://buildcostindex.com/compare](https://buildcostindex.com/compare)

## [2026 US Construction Cost per Square Foot (CSI MasterFormat) vs RSMeans National Baseline](https://buildcostindex.com/compare/2026-commercial-and-residential-construction-cost-per-square-foot-csi-masterformat-vs-rsmeans-national-index)
- **Direct Answer:** While national RSMeans data provides an unweighted statistical average across 30 major metros, real-world general contractor costs per square foot in 2026 vary by as much as 48% depending on local trade unionization, seismic code amendments, and CSI MasterFormat Division 03 (Concrete) and 26 (Electrical) commodity volatility.
- **Statutory Basis:** RSMeans Construction Cost Data 2026; Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat 2024; ENR Construction Cost Index; US Bureau of Labor Statistics PPI Construction Materials.

## [AIA A102 Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) vs AIA A101 Stipulated Sum (Lump Sum) & Cost-Plus](https://buildcostindex.com/compare/general-contractor-guaranteed-maximum-price-gmp-aia-a102-vs-cost-plus-and-lump-sum-stipulated-sum-aia-a101)
- **Direct Answer:** Under AIA Document A102 (Cost of the Work Plus a Fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price), the general contractor guarantees the owner that the project cost will not exceed the GMP cap, while open-book accounting allows unused contractor contingency and trade savings to revert back to the owner.
- **Statutory Basis:** American Institute of Architects (AIA) Document A102–2017; AIA Document A101–2017; AIA Document A201–2017 General Conditions; Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Benchmarks.