It is true that most of the world's urban areas are becoming larger, with megacities like Delhi, Jakarta, Shanghai, Beijing and Manila adding more than five million people in the last decade and most other urban areas are growing, but not as fast.
1 With professional installation, a central vacuum system can cost $800-$4,000, but averages about $1,200-$2,000 for new home construction (or as part of a remodeling project where the walls are already torn open) and $1,500-$2,500 for retrofitting an existing house.
1 A basic portable air compressor with a 15-30 gallon tank, 1-2 horsepower (HP), and 120-200 pounds per square inch (PSI) output costs approximately $250 to $500.  A portable air compressor with a 6.5 HP gas engine, 10 gallon tank, and 135 PSI might cost roughly $750 to $1,250.