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Iowa City, IA remodeling cost data for contractors

What Clear Estimates Research found about remodeling costs in Iowa City, for remodeling contractors bidding work in the area.

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Remodeling prices by category

Iowa City isn't in this quarter's local prices yet. These are national figures for a typical job in each category.

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.

Research on Iowa City

Findings for Iowa City 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
$515,200
Median market: $528,300
Cost to build the economy ranch
$229,900
Median market: $234,000
Cost to build the brick colonial
$1,234,200
Median market: $1,260,000
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
215
Median market: 220

Cost to build the Cape Cod in Iowa City: $515,200, against $528,300 in the median market. Lower than in 197 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Cost to build the economy ranch in Iowa City: $229,900, against $234,000 in the median market. Lower than in 191 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Cost to build the brick colonial in Iowa City: $1,234,200, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Lower than in 195 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Iowa City: 215, against 220 in the median market. Lower than in 193 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 8 Iowa 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
+37%
Median market: +37%
Labor change
+35%
Median market: +35%
Labor's share of the increase
38%
Median market: 38%

Material change in Iowa City: +37%, the same as the median market. Lower than in 195 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Labor change in Iowa City: +35%, the same as the median market. Lower than in 178 of the 349 markets, and the 4th lowest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Labor's share of the increase in Iowa City: 38%, the same as the median market. Higher than in 173 of the 349 markets, and the 4th lowest of the 8 Iowa 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
$20,100
Median market: $20,300
Composite deck, 200 sq ft
$12,100
Median market: $12,100
Roof replacement, 800 sq ft
$8,900
Median market: $8,900
Two-car garage, 500 sq ft
$45,400
Median market: $46,400

Bathroom remodel, 40 sq ft in Iowa City: $20,100, against $20,300 in the median market. Lower than in 183 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Composite deck, 200 sq ft in Iowa City: $12,100, the same as the median market. Higher than in 180 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Roof replacement, 800 sq ft in Iowa City: $8,900, the same as the median market. Lower than in 182 of the 349 markets, and the 4th lowest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Two-car garage, 500 sq ft in Iowa City: $45,400, against $46,400 in the median market. Lower than in 201 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa 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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