The initial construction cost of the Sorek Desalination Plant was about $400 million, while the construction cost of the Carlsbad Desalination Plant was as high as $1 billion. As the world's largest desalination plant, the Ras Al Desalination Plant cost as much as $7.3 billion to build.

1. Cost range: According to the World Bank, the cost of solar desalination typically fluctuates within a range per cubic meter of water produced. The average cost is approximately US$0.72-1.50, depending on a variety of factors, including technology selection, energy costs, equipment and material costs, and the geographical and climatic conditions of the project location.

Desalination plant cost is dependent on your water source, reverse osmosis system design and selected brands.