This study presents a detailed comparison of life cycle costs (LCC) of short-span road bridges made with prestressed concrete girders and steel girders. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the LCC implications of using different materials for bridge construction, considering various factors such as construction costs, maintenance and repair costs, environmental impacts, social costs, user costs, and recycling/dumping costs. A new life cycle cost Assessment (LCCA) framework is developed to accommodate country-specific cost data and facilitate comparisons across different bridge designs and locations. The study focuses on the comparative LCCA of standard PSC-girder RC-deck and steel-girder RC-deck bridges. The results show that the LCC of steel-girder bridges can be significantly lower than those made with prestressed concrete girders, depending on the target service life and bridge design parameters. This research contributes to a better understanding of the economic, environmental, and social implications of using different materials for short-span bridge construction and provides recommendations for policymakers, designers, and builders to optimize LCC decisions.