Exterior House Painting cost: Davenport vs Sioux City (2026)
The two metros aren't quite in sync on exterior house painting: Davenport sits 2% above Sioux City, or roughly $3,000 versus $2,950 — about $50 apart.
Davenport IA
Typically around $3,000
Sioux City IA
Lower costTypically around $2,950
Davenport vs Sioux City: full breakdown
| Factor | Davenport | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,000 | $2,950 |
| Estimated range | $1,700–$4,250 | $1,700–$4,200 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.92 | ×0.92 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,100 | $2,050 |
| Materials/equipment | $900 | $900 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Is the price difference a dealbreaker?
2% 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: Davenport vs Sioux City
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 | Davenport | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,600–$3,750 | $1,600–$3,750 |
| Wood siding | $1,800–$4,250 | $1,800–$4,200 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,050–$4,800 | $2,050–$4,750 |
| Stucco | $2,050–$4,700 | $2,050–$4,650 |
| Brick | $2,350–$5,200 | $2,350–$5,150 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Exterior house painting by home size: Davenport vs Sioux 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 | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,400–$3,300 | $1,400–$3,250 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,700–$4,250 | $1,700–$4,200 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,050–$5,200 | $2,050–$5,150 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,800–$6,600 | $2,800–$6,550 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,600–$8,000 | $3,550–$7,950 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,250–$9,400 | $4,200–$9,350 |
Exterior house painting numbers here are 2026 planning ranges, adjusted per city — useful for budgeting, not a substitute for an actual quote.
Cheapest time for exterior house painting in either city
Because exterior paint needs warm, dry conditions, summer bookings are unavoidable and pricier. Interior painting sidesteps that constraint entirely — schedule it in winter, when crews have far less competing work.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
Two bids on the same room can differ by half, and the gap is almost never the paint itself — it's how much prep and how many coats each one includes. Here's what separates a finish that holds from one that doesn't.
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
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.
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.
Davenport vs Sioux City
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Davenport or Sioux City?
Yes — Davenport costs more. Expect around $3,000 for exterior house painting there against $2,950 in Sioux City, about $50 (2%) apart in 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Davenport than Sioux City?
Labor rates explain most of it — 0.92 in Davenport vs 0.92 in Sioux City. A cold climate versus cold accounts for the rest.
How much is exterior house painting in Davenport, IA?
exterior house painting in Davenport runs $1,700–$4,250 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $3,000.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
The best window is the same in both Davenport and Sioux City: Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior, when demand drops and installers discount to keep crews busy — typically 10–20% (interior, off-season) off peak pricing. The most expensive time anywhere is an emergency replacement during mid-summer (exterior peak).
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Probably not. Yes, $50 is a real gap, but it's a one-time cost you can partly offset in Davenport with off-season timing and tighter bids. Long-term factors like energy prices and home condition matter more than this one number.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik