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Metal building kits are a type of prefabricated or modular house. Modular homes cost $100 to $200 per square foot, which is higher because they include assembly and other services like a foundation or HVAC. A metal home kit gives you everything you need to build the basic structure of your home on-site, but it doesn't include the finishing touches.

With proper installation, metal homes are often safer than houses with a wood frame. They are less likely to burn in a fire, which helps reduce insurance costs. Some, like rigid-frame houses, are built to withstand weight and weather in at least one direction. Dome-like Quonset huts and angular A-frame houses resist wind, storm, and potentially seismic damage. You can also get some of the safety benefits, such as impact resistance, on an existing property by adding metal siding, which costs $1 to $35 per square foot.

At $74,000 to $240,000, a metal house is more affordable than the $165,000 to $480,000 you’ll pay to build a wood-frame home. The cost depends heavily on the type and size of the house, the quality of the materials, the finish, and your location.

Building a shipping container house can cost as little as $30,000, depending on your desired services. Shipping containers are designed to be transported on a cargo ship and traditional roads, so they are very narrow (under eight feet). Homeowners need to combine containers or be creative with the living space layout.