Exterior House Painting cost: Aurora vs Bloomington (2026)
The two metros aren't quite in sync on exterior house painting: Aurora sits 23% above Bloomington, or roughly $3,750 versus $3,050 — about $700 apart.
Aurora IL
Typically around $3,750
Bloomington IL
Lower costTypically around $3,050
Aurora vs Bloomington: full breakdown
| Factor | Aurora | Bloomington |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,750 | $3,050 |
| Estimated range | $2,150–$5,300 | $1,750–$4,350 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.16 | ×0.95 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,650 | $2,150 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,100 | $900 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for exterior house painting, not quotes from a contractor.
How much should this gap actually matter?
23% (about $700) is enough to notice on a exterior house painting budget. Timing the purchase for the off-season and pushing for an apples-to-apples bid in Aurora can close much of that gap.
Exterior house painting by type: Aurora vs Bloomington
Each exterior house painting option, priced separately for both metros — the same local labor, climate and permit adjustments applied per city, so you can compare like for like.
| Type | Aurora | Bloomington |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $2,000–$4,700 | $1,650–$3,900 |
| Wood siding | $2,250–$5,300 | $1,850–$4,350 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,600–$6,000 | $2,150–$4,950 |
| Stucco | $2,600–$5,900 | $2,150–$4,850 |
| Brick | $2,950–$6,500 | $2,450–$5,350 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for exterior house painting, not quotes from a contractor.
Exterior house painting by home size: Aurora vs Bloomington
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 | Aurora | Bloomington |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,750–$4,150 | $1,450–$3,400 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $2,150–$5,300 | $1,750–$4,350 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,600–$6,500 | $2,150–$5,350 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,550–$8,250 | $2,900–$6,800 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,500–$10,050 | $3,700–$8,250 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $5,300–$11,800 | $4,350–$9,700 |
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
Roughly 70% of what you pay for exterior house painting is labor, which is why local wages explain most of the price gap. The numbers below are actual metro wages for skilled installers, sourced from BLS OEWS — not guesses.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro · about 23% above the US average installer wage.
No BLS metro wage series for Bloomington; we use Illinois 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 needs dry weather (50–85°F), so summer is peak and priciest. Interior work has no weather limit, and winter is the trade's slow season — the cheapest time to book.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
Most of a paint quote is labor and prep, not paint. Our editors on where the money should go.
The prep-first case
Surface prep — patching, sanding, caulking, washing — is most of a lasting finish. A bid that's cheap because it skips prep will peel within a year. Pay for the prep, not the brand name.
The coverage case
A quote that promises 'one coat, done' is usually promising a thin film that telegraphs whatever was underneath. Primer and two finish coats is what holds the color and buries the old wall. Put both in writing; otherwise the cheaper bid is just less product spread further.
The timing case
Book interior rooms during the slow winter stretch and you get first-string crews without the summer premium. Outside work can't be pushed against the weather: wait until the siding is dry and temperatures hold, or the coat fails to bond and the whole wall comes back around.
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.
Aurora vs Bloomington
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Aurora or Bloomington?
Bloomington wins on price: exterior house painting runs about $3,050 there versus $3,750 in Aurora, a gap of roughly $700 (23%) as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Aurora than Bloomington?
Aurora's higher labor index (1.16 vs 0.95 in Bloomington) is the biggest factor, with the cold/cold climate split playing a smaller role.
How much is exterior house painting in Aurora, IL?
exterior house painting in Aurora runs $2,150–$5,300 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $3,750.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
Timing doesn't change by city here — Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior is the cheapest window in both Aurora and Bloomington, saving roughly 10–20% (interior, off-season). Avoid mid-summer (exterior peak) in either location, when emergency replacements push prices up.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
That would be a stretch. $700 is a one-time difference, not an ongoing one, and off-season buying plus apples-to-apples bids in Aurora can close a good chunk of it. What matters more long-term is energy costs, climate and the condition of the home.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik