Answer: Yes and no.
Yes, when you compare with the traditonal single layer greenhouse. Double layers means more money. Fans, water pumps, spay nozzles, etc. means more money as well. However, the next will shock you…
No, because when you compare the two with all the same conditions. For example, for both to maintain the same temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, etc. it is very obvious that the traditional greenhouse is more expensive to build as you have to add a heating device for winter and a cooling apparatus for summer, not to speak of ventilation openings and fans, which will add more to the building costs.
So, PyraPOD is cheaper to build than a conventional single layer glazed greenhouse when you add all the things needed for the latter to compare with PyraPOD which is simpler to build without needing all the extra devices.
Now, let us compare the operating costs.
Because PyraPOD mainly rely on the free solar energy to maintain the temperature, you save a huge amount of the operating costs needed for a conventional greenhouse to maintain the same temperature.
Moreover, PyraPOD creates a closed controlled eco environment (CCEE), it saves a huge amount of water (because of no water loss). Better still, because the plants need a lot of CO2 to conduct the photosynthesis needed to produce the carbonhydrate, a closely sealed environment is much better to maintain the relatively high level of CO2 concentration. In comparation, a highly ventilated conventional greenhouse not only loose water vapors but also the CO2 that is badly needed by the plants.
So the end result in principle? Both low building and operating costs make PyraPOD the first choice for growing food in all climate and even for huamn hebitat.
Hope this helps you to figure out the actual costs for DIY build according to the different sizes and the kinds of materials you choose for structure, covering fabric, etc.
