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Chicago, IL remodeling prices for contractors

This quarter's remodeling prices in Chicago by project, and what Clear Estimates Research found about local costs. For remodeling contractors bidding work in the area.

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Chicago prices this quarter

A typical job for each project, priced in Chicago. Across the work in the cost data, prices here run 24% above the national median.

Q4 2026 pricing. National figures are the median of 50 metro areas. Ranges are rounded to the nearest $50, or $100 from $5,000 up.

Labor 56%Materials 44%Typical labor share for a job here, across projects.

Kitchen remodels

  • Kitchen remodelMajor, average finish, 200 square feet
    $59,900 to $69,60022% above the national median

Bathroom remodels

  • Bathroom remodelAverage, 50 square feet
    $25,900 to $30,10023% above the national median

Additions and ADUs

  • Room addition1 story over a basement, 400 square feet
    $138,300 to $160,70027% above the national median
  • ADU above a garageAverage, 550 square feet
    $226,100 to $262,80022% above the national median
  • Detached ADUAverage, 550 square feet
    $191,200 to $222,20021% above the national median
  • Owner's suite additionAverage, 400 square feet
    $138,800 to $161,30023% above the national median
  • Bathroom additionAverage, 50 square feet
    $43,000 to $50,00025% above the national median

Garages

  • New garageTwo car, 500 square feet
    $59,300 to $68,90024% above the national median

Decks and porches

  • New deckPressure treated, 250 square feet
    $9,000 to $10,40032% above the national median
  • New porchOn a slab, premium, 150 square feet
    $24,800 to $28,80029% above the national median
  • Porch replacementOn a slab, premium, 150 square feet
    $26,800 to $31,10029% above the national median
  • Deck resurfacingCedar, 250 square feet
    $3,900 to $4,55017% above the national median

Painting

  • Exterior painting1 story, complete, 1,600 square feet
    $8,400 to $9,70038% above the national median
  • Interior paintingWalls, ceilings and trim, 2,000 square feet
    $14,500 to $16,90036% above the national median

Electrical work

Research on Chicago

Findings for Chicago from Clear Estimates Research, data briefs built from the pricing data behind Clear Estimates. Newest first.

Clear Estimates Research ·

The limits of cost per square foot: what it really costs to build a house in every U.S. ZIP code

Cost to build the Cape Cod
$679,700
Median market: $528,300
Cost to build the economy ranch
$299,900
Median market: $234,000
Cost to build the brick colonial
$1,568,900
Median market: $1,260,000
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
283
Median market: 220

Cost to build the Cape Cod in Chicago: $679,700, against $528,300 in the median market. Higher than in 335 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Cost to build the economy ranch in Chicago: $299,900, against $234,000 in the median market. Higher than in 334 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Cost to build the brick colonial in Chicago: $1,568,900, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Higher than in 334 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Chicago: 283, against 220 in the median market. Higher than in 334 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Modeled cost to build a 1,200 sq ft economy ranch, a 2,400 sq ft mid-grade Cape Cod and a 4,000 sq ft premium brick colonial, median across the market's ZIP codes. Land not included.

Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, October 2026.

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Clear Estimates Research ·

Labor or materials: what's driving residential construction cost increases?

Material change
+36%
Median market: +37%
Labor change
+14%
Median market: +35%
Labor's share of the increase
32%
Median market: 38%

Material change in Chicago: +36%, against +37% in the median market. Lower than in 223 of the 349 markets, and the lowest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Labor change in Chicago: +14%, against +35% in the median market. Lower than in 345 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd lowest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Labor's share of the increase in Chicago: 32%, against 38% in the median market. Lower than in 279 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd lowest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Modeled cost of a 600-square-foot two-story addition. Labor's share is the part of the cost increase that came from labor.

Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, 2019 to 2026 (2026 through September).

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Clear Estimates Research ·

Labor drives regional cost variations more than the materials: four common projects in 349 markets

Bathroom remodel, 40 sq ft
$25,100
Median market: $20,300
Composite deck, 200 sq ft
$14,400
Median market: $12,100
Roof replacement, 800 sq ft
$10,900
Median market: $8,900
Two-car garage, 500 sq ft
$59,300
Median market: $46,400

Bathroom remodel, 40 sq ft in Chicago: $25,100, against $20,300 in the median market. Higher than in 337 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Composite deck, 200 sq ft in Chicago: $14,400, against $12,100 in the median market. Higher than in 342 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Roof replacement, 800 sq ft in Chicago: $10,900, against $8,900 in the median market. Higher than in 332 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Two-car garage, 500 sq ft in Chicago: $59,300, against $46,400 in the median market. Higher than in 332 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 10 Illinois markets.

Modeled cost of each project, median across the market's ZIP codes, with a contractor markup typical for the area.

Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, October 2026.

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