Supply, demand, transportation, and mining and fabrication costs drive the cost of granite. Granite is mined both in the USA and around the world. To get the stone into your home, it must be mined, shipped, fabricated, and installed. All of that handling adds to the cost but also results in your stone being one-of-a-kind and unique to your home. While the cost of granite can be higher than laminate or butcher block, the return on investment and longevity of your countertop will be far better with granite.