2026 Cost Index Study
Which remodels swing most by location.
Where you live moves some prices far more than others. Whole House Painting varies the most: $8,361 in San Antonio to $14,801 in New York, a 77% difference. Every tracked project, ranked by how much the metro changes the price.
Data verified Jul 2026 · v2026-07-21
Geographic spread
Ranked by price swing.
| Project | US average | Cheapest metro | Priciest metro | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole House Painting | $9,899 | San Antonio $8,361 | New York $14,801 | 77% |
| Concrete Patio Installation | $3,726 | San Antonio $3,308 | New York $5,120 | 55% |
| Bathroom Remodel | $24,388 | San Antonio $20,993 | New York $32,449 | 55% |
| Kitchen Remodel | $30,362 | San Antonio $26,536 | New York $38,647 | 46% |
| Water Heater Installation | $1,658 | San Antonio $1,517 | New York $2,019 | 33% |
| Central HVAC System | $10,563 | Springfield $9,648 | New York $12,814 | 33% |
Spread is the percentage difference between the cheapest and priciest tracked metro for each project. Built from BLS wages, current material prices, and verified permit fees.
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APA
Olson, D. (2026). 2026 Remodel Price Spread Study. TheFatBook. https://thefatbook.com/cost-index/project-spreads/
MLA
Olson, David. "2026 Remodel Price Spread Study." TheFatBook, 2026, thefatbook.com/cost-index/project-spreads.
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Olson, David. "2026 Remodel Price Spread Study." TheFatBook. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thefatbook.com/cost-index/project-spreads/.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Creator of the Cost Index & Permit Dataset · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired) · 2026-07-21