Residential construction costs can vary from state to state so the numbers below may not apply to your location, especially in Northern California. The Monterey Peninsula definitely falls outside these numbers. Contributing factors for higher costs include availability of workers, scarcity of local materials and building requirements that add time and money to a project.
Here are the 2019 National Results for Single Family Cost Breakdown for New Construction based on Average Lot Size: 22,094 and Average Finished Area: 2594.
Foundations $33,511
Framing/Trusses/Sheathing etc $51,589
Exterior Finishes $41,690
Plumbing $14,745
Electrical $13,798
HVAC $14,111
Insulation $5,184
Drywall $10,634
Interior trim, doors $10,605
Painting $8,254
Lighting $3,437
Cabinets $13,540
Flooring $11,998
Plumbing fixtures $4,108
Landscaping $6,506
Driveway $6,674
Source: Realtor Magazine. Breaking Down the Cost of Buiding a Home, February 12,2020