Bathroom remodel cost in Albuquerque, NM
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,450 – $22,100
- Per sq ft
- $94.50 – $474
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #160
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a bathroom in Albuquerque, plan on $4,450 to $22,100 for 45 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $94.50 to $474 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% lower than the national one. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $30.72 an hour in the Albuquerque area, 0% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM, standard level
$9,750 to $16,800
About $208 to $360 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Labor | $5,100 | $8,800 |
| Permits and fees | $360 | $590 |
| Total | $9,750 | $16,800 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 44% |
| Labor | $2,300 | $6,950 | $11,600 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $480 | $760 | 4% |
| Total | $4,450 | $13,300 | $22,100 | 100% |
Where the Albuquerque price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 25% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.72 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Albuquerque is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 52% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Albuquerque metro is 96.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,850, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.5) and land at $190 to $760.
Is Albuquerque cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Pueblo is the priciest of the group at $13,700. El Paso is the cheapest at $12,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMthis page | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | |
| Santa Fe, NM40 miles | $4,200 – $20,900 | $12,600 | −5% |
| Las Cruces, NM195 miles | $4,100 – $20,400 | $12,200 | −8% |
| Pueblo, CO235 miles | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | +3% |
| El Paso, TX255 miles | $4,000 – $19,900 | $12,000 | −10% |
| Amarillo, TX255 miles | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −7% |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $4,400 – $21,800 | $13,100 | −1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Albuquerque comes in at #160 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Albuquerque is 1% above the New Mexico figure.
Other New Mexico metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $4,100 – $20,400 | $12,200 | −8% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $4,200 – $20,900 | $12,600 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Albuquerque's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Albuquerque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $5,000 – $24,900 | $15,000 | +13% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +14% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | level |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $4,650 – $23,100 | $13,900 | +5% |
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Albuquerque
Moving plumbing
Keeping the toilet, tub and vanity in place keeps plumbing costs down. Moving them does not.
Contractor fee
A general contractor charges $50-$150 an hour or 10-20% of the project cost.
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
Albuquerque labor market for bathroom remodel
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Albuquerque is 0.94 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $30.72 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.50 and $37.83 an hour. BLS counts 1,440 of them working in the area, 35.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 25%) the local median is $22.13 an hour, which is 17% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $16.86 and $23.29 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the area, 4.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.89 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.21 and $31.48 an hour. BLS counts 1,940 of them working in the area, 47.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.43 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.37 and $35.04 an hour. About 2,440 work in the metro. That is 60.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.26 an hour, 7% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $22.17 and $36.82 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 9.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.21 an hour, which is 6% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $19.45 and $23.98 an hour. BLS counts 630 of them working in the area, 15.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($37.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $430. At the 25th percentile ($22.50) it shrinks by about $500. The total moves by 3.2% or 3.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,700 jobs in the Albuquerque area. That makes it the 62nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $22.50 | $30.72 | $37.83 | $30.67 | 1.00 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $16.86 | $22.13 | $23.29 | $26.77 | 0.83 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $23.21 | $28.89 | $31.48 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.37 | $28.43 | $35.04 | $30.38 | 0.94 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.17 | $26.26 | $36.82 | $28.33 | 0.93 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $19.45 | $22.21 | $23.98 | $23.75 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Albuquerque
Because every project leans on different trades, Albuquerque's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs −3% and kitchen backsplash −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,650 | −7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,800 – $30,300 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,200 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Albuquerque
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Albuquerque wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,450 to $11,500
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,750 to $16,800
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,000 to $22,100
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,100 – $5,350 | $4,550 – $7,800 | $7,000 – $10,200 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,000 – $10,300 | $8,700 – $15,000 | $13,400 – $19,700 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,850 – $15,200 | $12,900 – $22,200 | $19,900 – $29,200 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,650 – $25,000 | $21,200 – $36,600 | $32,700 – $48,100 |
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Bathroom remodel in Albuquerque: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Albuquerque?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,450 to $22,100 in the Albuquerque area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,750 to $16,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Albuquerque?
About $94.50 to $474 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $760 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Albuquerque or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $12,600, which is 5% less than Albuquerque ($13,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albuquerque?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $6,950 out of $13,300. Materials are 44% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Albuquerque?
$5,850 to $29,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Albuquerque?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $760 for fees in the Albuquerque area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albuquerque expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of New Mexico?
Albuquerque is 1% above the New Mexico statewide estimate ($13,100 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Mexico; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Albuquerque?
The BLS median is $30.72 an hour in the Albuquerque area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.50 to $37.83.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Albuquerque?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,450 to $11,500 and premium work $15,000 to $22,100. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Albuquerque
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 45% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range split for bathroom projects (50% labor, 45% materials, 5% permits and design). Their sample is their own guides, not a survey of contractors, so treat the split as approximate.