Exterior House Painting cost: Los Angeles vs Queens (2026)
In 2026, exterior house painting is about 7% less expensive in Los Angeles than in Queens. Most homeowners pay around $3,500 in Los Angeles versus $3,750 in Queens — a gap of roughly $250.
Los Angeles CA
Lower costTypically around $3,500
Queens NY
Typically around $3,750
Los Angeles vs Queens: full breakdown
| Factor | Los Angeles | Queens |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,500 | $3,750 |
| Estimated range | $2,000–$5,000 | $2,150–$5,350 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.11 | ×1.16 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,450 | $2,650 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,050 | $1,100 |
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?
At 7%, this gap is small enough that it's usually swallowed by normal quote-to-quote variation for exterior house painting — focus on the contractor, not the city.
Exterior house painting by type: Los Angeles vs Queens
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 | Los Angeles | Queens |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,900–$4,450 | $2,000–$4,750 |
| Wood siding | $2,100–$5,000 | $2,250–$5,350 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,450–$5,650 | $2,600–$6,050 |
| Stucco | $2,450–$5,550 | $2,600–$5,900 |
| Brick | $2,750–$6,100 | $2,950–$6,500 |
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 Queens
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 | Queens |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,650–$3,850 | $1,800–$4,150 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $2,000–$5,000 | $2,150–$5,350 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,450–$6,100 | $2,600–$6,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,300–$7,750 | $3,550–$8,300 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,200–$9,400 | $4,500–$10,050 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $5,000–$11,050 | $5,350–$11,850 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
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.
New York-Newark-Jersey City metro · about 23% above the US average installer wage.
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
There's a hard weather floor for exterior work (50-85°F), which crowds all that demand into summer. Interior jobs dodge that limit, so winter — when painters are otherwise slow — is when they cost the least.
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.
Don't shop a painting quote on price alone — shop it on prep and coat count. Get those two right and the season timed correctly, and the result beats a bargain bid every time.
Los Angeles vs Queens
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Los Angeles or Queens?
Los Angeles comes out ahead here, at roughly $3,500 for exterior house painting compared with $3,750 in Queens — a 7% ($250) gap as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Queens than Los Angeles?
Queens's higher labor index (1.16 vs 1.11 in Los Angeles) is the biggest factor, with the cold/mixed climate split playing a smaller role.
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.
Do painting pros really charge more in one city?
They do, and the BLS wage data confirms it: installers earn about $35.9/hr around Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim versus $38.3/hr near New York-Newark-Jersey City. With labor making up about 70% of a exterior house painting job, that difference carries straight through to the final price.
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 Los Angeles and Queens, 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?
Not really — the $250 gap is one-time, and smart timing and tighter quotes in Queens 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