The 2026 State-by-State Home Improvement Cost Index
The same kitchen remodel costs 75% more in Hawaii than in Mississippi. Full 50-state ranking from our cost engine.
Published 2026-08-21 · Data from the HomeServiceCost engine (BLS OEWS / BEA RPP derived)
Hawaii vs Mississippi — the widest cost gap between any two states
Key Findings
01Hawaii tops the index
A typical kitchen remodel averages $42,000 in Hawaii versus $30,000 nationally — labor rates and material logistics both run at a premium.
02Mississippi is the value floor
At a 0.80 cost multiplier, Mississippi homeowners pay roughly 20% below the national baseline for identical scope.
03Regional clusters are real
West Coast and Northeast states dominate the most-expensive tier while South and Midwest states fill the value tier — a persistent pattern across every project type we track.
All 50 States, Ranked Most to Least Expensive
| Rank | State | Multiplier | Typical Kitchen Remodel |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1Hawaii | 1.40×$42,000 | ||
| #2California | 1.35×$40,500 | ||
| #3New York | 1.30×$39,000 | ||
| #4Massachusetts | 1.25×$37,500 | ||
| #5New Jersey | 1.25×$37,500 | ||
| #6Connecticut | 1.20×$36,000 | ||
| #7Maryland | 1.20×$36,000 | ||
| #8Rhode Island | 1.20×$36,000 | ||
| #9Washington | 1.20×$36,000 | ||
| #10Alaska | 1.15×$34,500 | ||
| #11Colorado | 1.15×$34,500 | ||
| #12Delaware | 1.15×$34,500 | ||
| #13Nevada | 1.15×$34,500 | ||
| #14New Hampshire | 1.15×$34,500 | ||
| #15Oregon | 1.15×$34,500 | ||
| #16Vermont | 1.15×$34,500 | ||
| #17Illinois | 1.10×$33,000 | ||
| #18Maine | 1.10×$33,000 | ||
| #19Florida | 1.05×$31,500 | ||
| #20Minnesota | 1.05×$31,500 | ||
| #21Montana | 1.05×$31,500 | ||
| #22Pennsylvania | 1.05×$31,500 | ||
| #23Utah | 1.05×$31,500 | ||
| #24Arizona | 1.00×$30,000 | ||
| #25Idaho | 1.00×$30,000 | ||
| #26North Dakota | 1.00×$30,000 | ||
| #27Virginia | 1.00×$30,000 | ||
| #28Wisconsin | 1.00×$30,000 | ||
| #29Wyoming | 1.00×$30,000 | ||
| #30Indiana | 0.95×$28,500 | ||
| #31Louisiana | 0.95×$28,500 | ||
| #32Michigan | 0.95×$28,500 | ||
| #33Nebraska | 0.95×$28,500 | ||
| #34New Mexico | 0.95×$28,500 | ||
| #35South Dakota | 0.95×$28,500 | ||
| #36Georgia | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #37Iowa | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #38Kansas | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #39Kentucky | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #40Missouri | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #41North Carolina | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #42Ohio | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #43South Carolina | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #44Tennessee | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #45Texas | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #46West Virginia | 0.90×$27,000 | ||
| #47Alabama | 0.85×$25,500 | ||
| #48Arkansas | 0.85×$25,500 | ||
| #49Oklahoma | 0.85×$25,500 | ||
| #50Mississippi | 0.80×$24,000 |
Methodology
- Cost multipliers are derived from regional price parities (BEA RPP) and BLS OEWS state labor data, calibrated against market quotes for 134 home service categories.
- The example price applies each state multiplier to the midpoint of our kitchen remodel national baseline range.
- Multipliers apply to total project cost; state-level material and permit differences are embedded in the calibration.
Cite This Report
HomeServiceCost (2026). The 2026 State-by-State Home Improvement Cost Index. homeservicecost.com/reports/state-cost-index-2026
📊 Data Sources
HomeServiceCost aggregates pricing data from the following publicly available, government-verified, and industry-standard sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — OEWS Survey: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for 15+ construction and home service occupations across all 50 states. Data updated annually. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau — ACS: American Community Survey housing data, median home values, and demographic statistics. census.gov/acs
- Home Depot & Lowe's Pricing: Aggregated material pricing from major home improvement retailers, updated periodically to reflect market trends.
- ZIP Code & Regional Multipliers: Cost-of-living adjustments based on BLS price parity data and regional construction cost indices.
Data is re-baselined when BLS publishes new OEWS figures (annual). Last full update: October 2026. Read our full data methodology.
⚖️ Disclaimer
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