Exterior House Painting cost: Lafayette vs Metairie Terrace (2026)
In 2026, exterior house painting is about 5% less expensive in Lafayette than in Metairie Terrace. Most homeowners pay around $3,000 in Lafayette versus $3,150 in Metairie Terrace — a gap of roughly $150.
Lafayette LA
Lower costTypically around $3,000
Metairie Terrace LA
Typically around $3,150
Lafayette vs Metairie Terrace: full breakdown
| Factor | Lafayette | Metairie Terrace |
|---|---|---|
| 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 gap worth worrying about?
5% 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: Lafayette vs Metairie Terrace
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 | Lafayette | Metairie Terrace |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Exterior house painting by home size: Lafayette vs Metairie Terrace
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 Terrace |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
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 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 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 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.
Lafayette vs Metairie Terrace
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Lafayette or Metairie Terrace?
Lafayette wins on price: exterior house painting runs about $3,000 there versus $3,150 in Metairie Terrace, a gap of roughly $150 (5%) as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Metairie Terrace than Lafayette?
It comes down to labor: Metairie Terrace 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?
exterior house painting in Lafayette runs $1,700–$4,300 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?
Timing doesn't change by city here — Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior is the cheapest window in both Lafayette and Metairie Terrace, 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?
Rarely. The $150 difference is real but one-time, and you can often close most of it in Metairie Terrace by buying in the off-season and getting tighter, apples-to-apples bids. Ongoing factors — energy prices, climate and home condition — matter more over the life of the system.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik