Exterior House Painting cost: Nashville vs New South Memphis (2026)
Budget-wise, exterior house painting in Nashville ($3,050) runs 2% more than in New South Memphis ($3,000), a roughly $50 spread.
Nashville TN
Typically around $3,050
New South Memphis TN
Lower costTypically around $3,000
Nashville vs New South Memphis: full breakdown
| Factor | Nashville | New South Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,050 | $3,000 |
| Estimated range | $1,750–$4,300 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.96 | ×0.95 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Mixed |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,150 | $2,100 |
| Materials/equipment | $900 | $900 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
Is the price difference a dealbreaker?
That 2% 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: Nashville vs New South Memphis
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 | Nashville | New South Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,650–$3,850 | $1,600–$3,800 |
| Wood siding | $1,850–$4,300 | $1,800–$4,300 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,100–$4,900 | $2,100–$4,850 |
| Stucco | $2,100–$4,800 | $2,100–$4,750 |
| Brick | $2,400–$5,300 | $2,400–$5,250 |
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: Nashville vs New South Memphis
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 | Nashville | New South Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,450–$3,350 | $1,450–$3,350 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,750–$4,300 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,100–$5,300 | $2,100–$5,250 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,900–$6,750 | $2,850–$6,650 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,650–$8,150 | $3,600–$8,100 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,300–$9,600 | $4,300–$9,500 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for exterior house painting, not quotes from a contractor.
What painting pros earn in each metro
About 70% of a exterior house painting bill goes to labor, so wage differences between these two metros matter more than almost anything else. These are real, government-sourced (BLS OEWS) installer wages, not estimates.
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro · about 6% below the US average installer wage.
Memphis metro · about 7% 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
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?
The paint can is almost beside the point. Our editors on what actually drives a painting budget — and where corners get cut.
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 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.
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.
Nashville vs New South Memphis
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Nashville or New South Memphis?
In 2026, exterior house painting is cheaper in New South Memphis at about $3,000, versus $3,050 in Nashville — a difference of about $50 (2%).
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Nashville than New South Memphis?
Labor rates explain most of it — 0.96 in Nashville vs 0.95 in New South Memphis. A mixed climate versus mixed accounts for the rest.
How much is exterior house painting in Nashville, TN?
Nashville homeowners can expect $1,750 to $4,300 for exterior house painting in 2026, with $3,050 the typical number.
Do painting pros really charge more in one city?
They do, and the BLS wage data confirms it: installers earn about $29.4/hr around Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin versus $29/hr near Memphis. 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?
No, the seasonal pattern is the same in Nashville and New South Memphis: book during Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior for about 10–20% (interior, off-season) in savings. Mid-summer (exterior peak) is the priciest stretch in both cities, mostly due to emergency replacements.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Probably not. Yes, $50 is a real gap, but it's a one-time cost you can partly offset in Nashville with off-season timing and tighter bids. Long-term factors like energy prices and home condition matter more than this one number.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik