Exterior House Painting cost: Abington vs Allentown (2026)
In 2026, exterior house painting is about 6% more expensive in Abington than in Allentown. Most homeowners pay around $3,400 in Abington versus $3,200 in Allentown — a gap of roughly $200.
Abington PA
Typically around $3,400
Allentown PA
Lower costTypically around $3,200
Abington vs Allentown: full breakdown
| Factor | Abington | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,400 | $3,200 |
| Estimated range | $1,950–$4,800 | $1,800–$4,550 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.05 | ×0.99 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,400 | $2,250 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,000 | $950 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
How much should this gap actually matter?
6% is within noise for exterior house painting — contractor selection and timing move the price more than which of these two metros you're in.
Exterior house painting by type: Abington vs Allentown
Below, each exterior house painting option is priced independently for both cities, with identical local labor, climate and permit logic applied — so the comparison holds up.
| Type | Abington | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,800–$4,300 | $1,700–$4,000 |
| Wood siding | $2,050–$4,800 | $1,900–$4,550 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,350–$5,450 | $2,200–$5,150 |
| Stucco | $2,350–$5,350 | $2,200–$5,050 |
| Brick | $2,700–$5,900 | $2,500–$5,550 |
Exterior house painting numbers here are 2026 planning ranges, adjusted per city — useful for budgeting, not a substitute for an actual quote.
Exterior house painting by home size: Abington vs Allentown
Exterior painting is priced by the siding area, which tracks home size and the number of stories. Expect roughly $1–$4 per square foot of wall area; prep — scraping, sanding, and washing — often costs as much as the paint itself.
| Size | Abington | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,600–$3,750 | $1,500–$3,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,950–$4,800 | $1,800–$4,550 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,350–$5,900 | $2,200–$5,550 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,200–$7,500 | $3,000–$7,050 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,050–$9,100 | $3,800–$8,550 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,800–$10,700 | $4,550–$10,050 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
What painting pros earn in each metro
Since labor accounts for around 70% of what a exterior house painting job costs, it's the biggest lever behind any price gap between cities. What you're seeing below is actual BLS metro wage data for skilled installers — not a guess.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro · about 7% above the US average installer wage.
No BLS metro wage series for Allentown; we use Pennsylvania regional price parity instead.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metro wages for HVAC installers (used as a trade-labor index).
Cheapest time for exterior house painting in either city
Exterior paint only cures properly in dry, 50-85°F weather, which makes summer both the only real option and the most expensive one. Interior work has no such limit, so booking it in winter — the trade's slow season — is the cheaper play.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
The paint can is almost beside the point. Our editors on what actually drives a painting budget — and where corners get cut.
The prep-first case
Most of a durable coat is what happens to the surface first: filling holes, scuffing old sheen so the paint grips, sealing seams. Premium paint over an unwashed, unsanded wall fails just as fast as the bargain stuff. Spend on the hours a crew puts into the wall, not the label on the bucket.
The timing case
Winter is dead season for interior painters, and the good crews will take your rooms then at a rate they won't quote in July. Exterior work runs the opposite calendar — it needs dry, mild days, so hold it for spring or fall. Paint rolled onto a cold or damp wall never cures right, and you end up paying for the job twice.
The coverage case
One-coat quotes win on price by putting less paint on the wall, and you see the difference within months as the old color ghosts through. The defensible standard is primer plus two finish coats. Get coat count and primer named in the contract so a lower number can't quietly mean thinner coverage.
A low bid usually buys you less prep and one thin coat, which reads as savings right up until the wall starts showing wear. Ask what surface work is included and how many coats you're getting before you line the totals up against each other.
Abington vs Allentown
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Abington or Allentown?
Yes — Abington costs more. Expect around $3,400 for exterior house painting there against $3,200 in Allentown, about $200 (6%) apart in 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Abington than Allentown?
The main driver is local labor rates: Abington's labor index is 1.05 versus 0.99 in Allentown. Climate zone (cold vs cold) also shift the total.
How much is exterior house painting in Abington, PA?
exterior house painting in Abington runs $1,950–$4,800 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $3,400.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
No, the seasonal pattern is the same in Abington and Allentown: book during Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior for about 10–20% (interior, off-season) in savings. Mid-summer (exterior peak) is the priciest stretch in both cities, mostly due to emergency replacements.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Rarely. The $200 difference is real but one-time, and you can often close most of it in Abington by buying in the off-season and getting tighter, apples-to-apples bids. Ongoing factors — energy prices, climate and home condition — matter more over the life of the system.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik