Exterior House Painting cost: Davenport vs Iowa City (2026)
There's essentially no price gap here: exterior house painting runs close to $3,000 in both Davenport and Iowa City in 2026.
Davenport IA
Typically around $3,000
Iowa City IA
Typically around $3,000
Davenport vs Iowa City: full breakdown
| Factor | Davenport | Iowa City |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Estimated range | $1,700–$4,250 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.92 | ×0.94 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,100 | $2,100 |
| Materials/equipment | $900 | $900 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
No real cost edge either way
This is a statistical tie on exterior house painting cost, so let contractor reputation and project timing decide, not geography.
Exterior house painting by type: Davenport vs Iowa City
Every exterior house painting type gets its own localized price for each metro, using the same labor, climate and permit adjustments — a true apples-to-apples comparison.
| Type | Davenport | Iowa City |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,600–$3,750 | $1,600–$3,800 |
| Wood siding | $1,800–$4,250 | $1,800–$4,300 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,050–$4,800 | $2,100–$4,850 |
| Stucco | $2,050–$4,700 | $2,100–$4,800 |
| Brick | $2,350–$5,200 | $2,400–$5,250 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
Exterior house painting by home size: Davenport vs Iowa City
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 | Davenport | Iowa City |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,400–$3,300 | $1,450–$3,350 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,700–$4,250 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,050–$5,200 | $2,100–$5,250 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,800–$6,600 | $2,850–$6,700 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,600–$8,000 | $3,650–$8,100 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,250–$9,400 | $4,300–$9,550 |
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
Summer is peak season for exterior painting because the weather demands it, and prices follow demand. Interior painting isn't weather-dependent at all, which makes it the cheapest job to book in a slow winter month.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
Paint is the smallest line item in a painting budget — prep and labor are where the real cost sits. Our editors on where to actually spend.
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 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 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.
A paint job is only as good as the prep underneath it. Confirm coats and primer in writing, time the work to the season, and the finish will outlast a cheaper, thinner job.
Davenport vs Iowa City
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Davenport or Iowa City?
exterior house painting costs about the same in both — roughly $3,000 in each city.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Iowa City than Davenport?
Labor rates explain most of it — 0.94 in Iowa City vs 0.92 in Davenport. A cold climate versus cold accounts for the rest.
How much is exterior house painting in Davenport, IA?
Expect to pay $1,700 to $4,250 for exterior house painting in Davenport in 2026, averaging around $3,000.
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 Davenport and Iowa City (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?
No — the cost is essentially identical between Davenport and Iowa City. Base the decision on the things that actually vary: contractor reputation, scope, equipment tier and timing.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik