Exterior House Painting cost: Los Angeles vs Manchester (2026)
The two metros aren't quite in sync on exterior house painting: Los Angeles sits 3% above Manchester, or roughly $3,500 versus $3,400 — about $100 apart.
Los Angeles CA
Typically around $3,500
Manchester NH
Lower costTypically around $3,400
Los Angeles vs Manchester: full breakdown
| Factor | Los Angeles | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,500 | $3,400 |
| Estimated range | $2,000–$5,000 | $1,950–$4,850 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.11 | ×1.06 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,450 | $2,400 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,050 | $1,000 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Is the price difference a dealbreaker?
A 3% difference on exterior house painting is minor — you'll typically see a wider spread just from getting multiple quotes in the same city, so don't let location drive the decision.
Exterior house painting by type: Los Angeles vs Manchester
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 | Los Angeles | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,900–$4,450 | $1,850–$4,300 |
| Wood siding | $2,100–$5,000 | $2,050–$4,850 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,450–$5,650 | $2,350–$5,500 |
| Stucco | $2,450–$5,550 | $2,350–$5,400 |
| Brick | $2,750–$6,100 | $2,700–$5,900 |
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: Los Angeles vs Manchester
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 | Los Angeles | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,650–$3,850 | $1,600–$3,750 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $2,000–$5,000 | $1,950–$4,850 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,450–$6,100 | $2,350–$5,900 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,300–$7,750 | $3,250–$7,550 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,200–$9,400 | $4,100–$9,150 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $5,000–$11,050 | $4,850–$10,750 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for exterior house painting, not quotes from a contractor.
What painting pros earn in each metro
Roughly 70% of what you pay for exterior house painting is labor, which is why local wages explain most of the price gap. The numbers below are actual metro wages for skilled installers, sourced from BLS OEWS — not guesses.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro · about 15% above the US average installer wage.
No BLS metro wage series for Manchester; we use New Hampshire regional price parity instead.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metro wages for HVAC installers (used as a trade-labor index).
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?
The paint can is almost beside the point. Our editors on what actually drives a painting budget — and where corners get cut.
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
Winter is dead season for interior painters, and the good crews will take your rooms then at a rate they won't quote in July. Exterior work runs the opposite calendar — it needs dry, mild days, so hold it for spring or fall. Paint rolled onto a cold or damp wall never cures right, and you end up paying for the job twice.
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.
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.
Los Angeles vs Manchester
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Los Angeles or Manchester?
In 2026, exterior house painting is cheaper in Manchester at about $3,400, versus $3,500 in Los Angeles — a difference of about $100 (3%).
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Los Angeles than Manchester?
It comes down to labor: Los Angeles indexes at 1.11 against Manchester's 1.06. The mixed-vs-cold climate difference adds to the gap.
How much is exterior house painting in Los Angeles, CA?
exterior house painting in Los Angeles runs $2,000–$5,000 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $3,500.
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 Los Angeles and Manchester (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?
Not really — the $100 gap is one-time, and smart timing and tighter quotes in Los Angeles can shrink it. Factors that compound over time, like energy prices and home condition, deserve more weight than a single upfront difference.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik