Exterior House Painting cost: Murray vs Salt Lake City (2026)
In 2026, Murray and Salt Lake City land on nearly identical exterior house painting pricing — about $3,150 either way.
Murray UT
Typically around $3,150
Salt Lake City UT
Typically around $3,150
Murray vs Salt Lake City: full breakdown
| Factor | Murray | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,150 | $3,150 |
| Estimated range | $1,800–$4,500 | $1,800–$4,500 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.98 | ×0.98 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,200 | $2,200 |
| Materials/equipment | $950 | $950 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for exterior house painting, not quotes from a contractor.
No real cost edge either way
The two metros are effectively a wash for exterior house painting — pick on contractor quality and timing, not location.
Exterior house painting by type: Murray vs Salt Lake 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 | Murray | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,700–$4,000 | $1,700–$4,000 |
| Wood siding | $1,900–$4,500 | $1,900–$4,500 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,200–$5,100 | $2,200–$5,100 |
| Stucco | $2,200–$5,000 | $2,200–$5,000 |
| Brick | $2,500–$5,500 | $2,500–$5,500 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Exterior house painting by home size: Murray vs Salt Lake 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 | Murray | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,500–$3,500 | $1,500–$3,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,800–$4,500 | $1,800–$4,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,200–$5,500 | $2,200–$5,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,000–$7,000 | $3,000–$7,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,800–$8,500 | $3,800–$8,500 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,500–$9,950 | $4,500–$9,950 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for exterior house painting, not quotes from a contractor.
What painting pros earn in each metro
Since labor accounts for around 70% of what a exterior house painting job costs, it's the biggest lever behind any price gap between cities. What you're seeing below is actual BLS metro wage data for skilled installers — not a guess.
Salt Lake City-Murray metro · about 3% below the US average installer wage.
Salt Lake City-Murray metro · about 3% below 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
Exterior paint needs dry weather (50–85°F), so summer is peak and priciest. Interior work has no weather limit, and winter is the trade's slow season — the cheapest time to book.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
A painting bid can look cheap and still deliver a bad result, because the number rarely reflects the prep behind it. Here's how our editors think about it.
The timing case
Book interior rooms during the slow winter stretch and you get first-string crews without the summer premium. Outside work can't be pushed against the weather: wait until the siding is dry and temperatures hold, or the coat fails to bond and the whole wall comes back around.
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 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.
Murray vs Salt Lake City
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Murray or Salt Lake City?
Not really — both cities land at almost the same number for exterior house painting, around $3,150 each.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Salt Lake City than Murray?
Labor rates explain most of it — 0.98 in Salt Lake City vs 0.98 in Murray. A cold climate versus cold accounts for the rest.
How much is exterior house painting in Murray, UT?
exterior house painting in Murray runs $1,800–$4,500 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $3,150.
Do painting pros really charge more in one city?
Yes — and the wage data shows it. A skilled installer earns about $30.1/hr in the Salt Lake City-Murray area versus $30.1/hr around Salt Lake City-Murray (BLS metro wage data). Since labor is roughly 70% of a exterior house painting job, that wage gap is the biggest reason the installed prices differ.
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 Murray and Salt Lake City, 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?
There's no cost argument here between Murray and Salt Lake City — they're a wash. Focus on contractor reputation, project scope, equipment tier and timing.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik