Exterior House Painting cost: Cary vs Durham (2026)
Cary and Durham are a near-perfect match on exterior house painting cost in 2026, both landing around $3,100.
Cary NC
Typically around $3,100
Durham NC
Typically around $3,100
Cary vs Durham: full breakdown
| Factor | Cary | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,100 | $3,100 |
| Estimated range | $1,750–$4,450 | $1,750–$4,400 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.99 | ×0.98 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Mixed |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,150 | $2,150 |
| Materials/equipment | $950 | $950 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
A wash — choose on quality, not city
With no real price gap on exterior house painting, the choice comes down to contractor quality and timing, not which city you're in.
Exterior house painting by type: Cary vs Durham
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 | Cary | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,700–$3,950 | $1,650–$3,900 |
| Wood siding | $1,850–$4,450 | $1,850–$4,400 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,150–$5,050 | $2,150–$5,000 |
| Stucco | $2,150–$4,950 | $2,150–$4,900 |
| Brick | $2,450–$5,400 | $2,450–$5,400 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Exterior house painting by home size: Cary vs Durham
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 | Cary | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,500–$3,450 | $1,450–$3,450 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,750–$4,450 | $1,750–$4,400 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,150–$5,400 | $2,150–$5,400 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,950–$6,900 | $2,950–$6,850 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,750–$8,400 | $3,700–$8,300 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,450–$9,850 | $4,400–$9,800 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
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?
Most of a paint quote is labor and prep, not paint. Our editors on where the money should go.
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 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.
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 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.
Cary vs Durham
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Cary or Durham?
Practically identical — expect around $3,100 for exterior house painting whichever city you're in.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Durham than Cary?
It comes down to labor: Durham indexes at 0.98 against Cary's 0.99. The mixed-vs-mixed climate difference adds to the gap.
How much is exterior house painting in Cary, NC?
In Cary, exterior house painting typically runs $1,750–$4,450 in 2026, with most homeowners paying around $3,100.
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 Cary and Durham, 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?
There's no cost argument here between Cary and Durham — they're a wash. Focus on contractor reputation, project scope, equipment tier and timing.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik