"Jess" wrote in message
...
I want to finish my basement. Headroom is not an issue as it is ten
feet from the dirt floor up to the bottom of my first floor joists.

Would it be better (and or cheaper) to "build" a floor similar to my
first floor floor (joists, sheathing, ...) or to pour a concrete slab.
The floor covering will be carpet.

The "wood" floor I would build myself, the concrete floor I would have
to pay for labor and materials.

I'd go with concrete. First I'd put down 2" of foam insulation board.

Disadvantages of wood over dirt:
Rot
Mold & mildew
Residence for rodents
Residence for insects