Exterior House Painting cost: Camden vs Edison (2026)
The two metros aren't quite in sync on exterior house painting: Camden sits 5% above Edison, or roughly $3,350 versus $3,200 — about $150 apart.
Camden NJ
Typically around $3,350
Edison NJ
Lower costTypically around $3,200
Camden vs Edison: full breakdown
| Factor | Camden | Edison |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,350 | $3,200 |
| Estimated range | $1,900–$4,750 | $1,800–$4,550 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.05 | ×1.01 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Mixed |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,350 | $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.
Is the gap worth worrying about?
At 5%, this gap is small enough that it's usually swallowed by normal quote-to-quote variation for exterior house painting — focus on the contractor, not the city.
Exterior house painting by type: Camden vs Edison
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 | Camden | Edison |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,800–$4,200 | $1,700–$4,050 |
| Wood siding | $2,000–$4,750 | $1,900–$4,550 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,300–$5,350 | $2,200–$5,150 |
| Stucco | $2,300–$5,250 | $2,200–$5,050 |
| Brick | $2,650–$5,800 | $2,500–$5,550 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Exterior house painting by home size: Camden vs Edison
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 | Camden | Edison |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,600–$3,700 | $1,500–$3,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,900–$4,750 | $1,800–$4,550 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,300–$5,800 | $2,200–$5,550 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,150–$7,350 | $3,000–$7,050 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,000–$8,950 | $3,850–$8,550 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,750–$10,500 | $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
Labor is about 70% of a exterior house painting bill, so local wages drive most of the gap. These are real metro hourly wages for skilled installers (BLS OEWS), not estimates.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro · about 7% above the US average installer wage.
No BLS metro wage series for Edison; we use New Jersey 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
Two coats over primer is the honest standard; one-coat bids hide thin coverage. Confirm coats and primer in writing so a "lower" price isn't just less paint on the wall.
The timing case
Interior work in the trade's slow winter season catches the best crews at the best price. Save exterior jobs for dry weather — rushing paint onto a damp or cold wall guarantees a redo.
The headline price on a painting bid tells you almost nothing — ask about prep and coat count instead. Two coats over primer, done in the right season, consistently outperforms the cheapest quote.
Camden vs Edison
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Camden or Edison?
Edison wins on price: exterior house painting runs about $3,200 there versus $3,350 in Camden, a gap of roughly $150 (5%) as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Camden than Edison?
Labor rates explain most of it — 1.05 in Camden vs 1.01 in Edison. A mixed climate versus mixed accounts for the rest.
How much is exterior house painting in Camden, NJ?
Camden homeowners can expect $1,900 to $4,750 for exterior house painting in 2026, with $3,350 the typical number.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
It doesn't vary by location — Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior is the discount window in both Camden and Edison (roughly 10–20% (interior, off-season) off), while mid-summer (exterior peak) tends to be the most expensive in either city.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
That would be a stretch. $150 is a one-time difference, not an ongoing one, and off-season buying plus apples-to-apples bids in Camden 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