05/09/2026
Ever wonder what it actually costs to build a data centre?
Our estimate: RM2.1 billion for a 50MW facility — and that’s before a single chip is installed.
Most of that goes into electrical systems (40–45%) and cooling (15–25%), with the building itself making up only 10–15% (JLL / Turner & Townsend). Land isn’t included either — a facility this size can need 10–50 acres on top.
Then there’s the hardware. A single Nvidia GB200 NVL72 rack costs around US$5.9 million, and a 50MW site needs roughly 400 of them. That second bill can be bigger than the building itself.
And because AI-grade racks run so hot, liquid cooling — which costs 35–40% more than air cooling — is now the only real option.
The takeaway: RM2.1B is just one piece of a much bigger price tag.
Which part of this surprised you the most?
Let us know in the comments, and share this with anyone in property or tech who’d find it useful.
