Abstract The transition from the Uniform Building Code (UBC-97) to the International Building Code (IBC-21) marked a major shift in the definition of seismic hazard. The term “seismic hazard” in the form of peak ground acceleration (PGA) is replaced by spectral acceleration. This paper investigates the effect of using new seismic hazards on the structural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. It also looks into the financial impact on the capital costs of new buildings. Useful insights are made to understand the structural performance and financial impact of adopting IBC 21 for structural design in contrast to UBC 97. This study was carried out from the perspective of a developing country, Pakistan. Reinforced concrete moment resisting and dual frames are used as the main structural system of a typical 7-story residential building to investigate the aforementioned effect. The frames are assumed to be located in two locations with high and low seismic hazards. The effect on structural performance is investigated via nonlinear pushover analysis. Financial impact is judged mainly through cost estimation for steel and concrete. A detailed discussion is also presented on the seismic design guidelines in both codes.