Which phase involves the evaluation of project costs against budget estimates?

The monitoring phase is crucial in assessing the actual performance of a construction project against the planned budget. During this phase, project managers continuously track expenditures and compare them with the budget estimates developed during the planning stage. This ongoing evaluation allows for early detection of any deviations from the expected financial outcomes, enabling timely corrective actions to keep the project on track financially.

In this phase, various tools and techniques, such as earned value management, are often utilized to provide insights into the budget status, performance trends, and overall financial health of the project. This not only helps in managing costs effectively but also in communicating financial information to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the project's lifecycle.