Exterior House Painting cost: Lafayette vs Metairie (2026)
Budget-wise, exterior house painting in Lafayette ($3,000) runs 5% less than in Metairie ($3,150), a roughly $150 spread.
Lafayette LA
Lower costTypically around $3,000
Metairie LA
Typically around $3,150
Lafayette vs Metairie: full breakdown
| Factor | Lafayette | Metairie |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,000 | $3,150 |
| Estimated range | $1,700–$4,300 | $1,800–$4,450 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.93 | ×0.96 |
| Climate zone | Hot | Hot |
| Climate factor | ×1.03 | ×1.03 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,100 | $2,200 |
| Materials/equipment | $900 | $950 |
Exterior house painting numbers here are 2026 planning ranges, adjusted per city — useful for budgeting, not a substitute for an actual quote.
Is the price difference a dealbreaker?
That 5% gap is small — for exterior house painting it's usually less than the spread between two local contractors' quotes, so the metro matters far less than who you hire and when you buy.
Exterior house painting by type: Lafayette vs Metairie
We localize each exterior house painting type separately for both metros, applying the same labor, climate and permit adjustments each time, so you're comparing like for like.
| Type | Lafayette | Metairie |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,650–$3,850 | $1,700–$3,950 |
| Wood siding | $1,800–$4,300 | $1,850–$4,450 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,100–$4,900 | $2,150–$5,050 |
| Stucco | $2,100–$4,800 | $2,150–$4,950 |
| Brick | $2,400–$5,250 | $2,450–$5,450 |
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: Lafayette vs Metairie
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 | Lafayette | Metairie |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,450–$3,350 | $1,500–$3,450 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,700–$4,300 | $1,800–$4,450 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,100–$5,250 | $2,150–$5,450 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,850–$6,700 | $2,950–$6,900 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,650–$8,150 | $3,750–$8,400 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,300–$9,600 | $4,450–$9,850 |
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
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?
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 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
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.
Judge a paint quote by prep and coats, not the headline number. Good prep, two coats over primer and the right season beat a cheap bid every time.
Lafayette vs Metairie
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Lafayette or Metairie?
Lafayette comes out ahead here, at roughly $3,000 for exterior house painting compared with $3,150 in Metairie — a 5% ($150) gap as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Metairie than Lafayette?
It comes down to labor: Metairie indexes at 0.96 against Lafayette's 0.93. The hot-vs-hot climate difference adds to the gap.
How much is exterior house painting in Lafayette, LA?
Lafayette homeowners can expect $1,700 to $4,300 for exterior house painting in 2026, with $3,000 the typical number.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
The best window is the same in both Lafayette and Metairie: 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?
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 Metairie 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