BLS wages · BEA prices · Verified 2026-09
How much does this home project cost where you live?
Ten calculators with itemized, location-priced receipts — labor, materials, permits, plus 10% contingency. Every figure dated, sourced, and linked. Free, no email wall.
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Example receipt
Verified 2026-09Roofing · 2,000 sqft · TX · Mid-grade
The toolbox
Ten projects, priced honestly
Typical totals shown for Texas mid-grade reference specs — yours adjusts by state, size, and tier.
Roofing
Tear-off + replace, priced by pitch and state wages.
Typical$15,836
Kitchen remodel
Cabinets, scope, and appliances — the big three.
Typical$49,368
Bathroom remodel
Tile, fixtures, and whether plumbing moves.
Typical$21,357
HVAC replacement
Capacity, SEER, and heat-pump premiums.
Typical$14,905
Siding replacement
Wall area, stories, and material jump.
Typical$18,812
Deck build
Boards, height, and footings.
Typical$14,041
Driveway replacement
Area plus tear-out and base work.
Typical$8,355
House painting
Prep and coats dwarf the paint cans.
Typical$3,851
Flooring
Material per foot plus subfloor truth.
Typical$11,314
Window replacement
Per-opening math, frame and install type.
Typical$12,837
Method in three moves
From project to receipt
01
Describe it
Size, scope, and quality tier — the inputs that actually move contractor bids.
02
Price it locally
BLS trade wages and BEA price parities re-price the base spec for your state.
03
Check the math
Every line cites its source and date. Methodology open, assumptions labeled.
Quarterly report · live
The Quarterly Cost Index
One report tracking all ten projects across all fifty states — built for journalists, buyers, and anyone timing a renovation. Free, citable, dated.
Read the index- 50
- states tracked
- 10
- projects
- 4
- updates a year
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Never overpay for timing
Cost alerts, only when prices move
Straight answers
Asked at every kitchen table
Where do the numbers come from?
BLS occupational wages for labor, BEA regional price parities for materials, and state-indexed permit allowances — computed against a documented base spec per project. Zonda Cost vs Value is used only as a calibration boundary, never reproduced.
Is this a contractor quote?
No. These are planning estimates from public data with stated assumptions — not bids and not professional advice. Always collect three itemized local bids before deciding.
Why does my state change the price so much?
Roofer wages run from 0.78× to 1.34× the national average by state, and permit fees vary even more. Location is the single biggest lever after project size.
Is HomeTrueCost free?
Yes. Every calculator is free with no email wall. Cost alerts are optional and double opt-in.