Kitchen remodel cost in Athens, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,200 – $29,300
- Per sq ft
- $140 – $233
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #246
- 1 = most expensive
Athens homeowners pay roughly $17,200 to $29,300 to remodel a kitchen at 120 sq ft, or $140 to $233 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Athens is 7% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $21.51 an hour in the Athens area, 26% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Athens, GA, standard level
$20,900 to $25,700
About $168 to $205 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 17% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,100 |
| Labor | $3,650 | $4,450 |
| Permits and fees | $750 | $1,100 |
| Total | $20,900 | $25,700 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Athens, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $18,300 | $22,900 | 79% |
| Labor | $3,050 | $4,050 | $5,050 | 17% |
| Permits and fees | $470 | $930 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $17,200 | $23,300 | $29,300 | 100% |
Why Athens prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: carpenters at 45%, electricians at 15%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 15%, tile and stone setters at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 5%. Weighted together, Athens wages are 0.81 times the national level. Labor makes up about 17% of the midpoint estimate (20% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Athens metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $18,300, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.3) and land at $470 to $1,400.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Athens. The wage table below marks each row.
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Athens
Cabinets
In a 10x10 kitchen, cabinets alone are $3,000-$11,000 for stock or semi-custom and up to $26,500 for fully custom.
Counters
New countertops are $50-$150 per square foot installed; HomeGuide gives $1,500-$6,000 for an average kitchen.
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Athens is 0.81 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $21.51 an hour, which is 26% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.97 and $25.72 an hour. BLS counts 100 of them working in the area, 10.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $23.92 an hour, 21% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $18.28 and $34.50 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 40.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) the local median is $27.76 an hour, which is 9% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.55 and $32.13 an hour. BLS counts 210 of them working in the area, 21.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Athens metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $23.00 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.94 and $27.57 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Athens metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $28.01 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.62 and $29.83 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $19.74 an hour, which is 17% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $17.67 and $22.44 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 5.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($25.72 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $320. At the 25th percentile ($17.97) it shrinks by about $270. The total moves by 1.4% or 1.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,800 jobs in the Athens-Clarke County area. That makes it the 209th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $17.97 | $21.51 | $25.72 | $29.12 | 0.74 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $18.28 | $23.92 | $34.50 | $30.38 | 0.79 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $22.55 | $27.76 | $32.13 | $30.67 | 0.91 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $20.94 | $23.00 | $27.57 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $24.62 | $28.01 | $29.83 | $28.33 | 0.99 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $17.67 | $19.74 | $22.44 | $23.75 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
Athens: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Athens 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
$17,200 to $22,100
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$20,900 to $25,700
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,500 to $29,300
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,400 – $18,500 | $17,500 – $21,600 | $20,600 – $24,700 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,200 – $22,100 | $20,900 – $25,700 | $24,500 – $29,300 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,400 – $36,200 | $34,300 – $42,100 | $40,200 – $48,000 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $42,400 – $53,900 | $51,100 – $62,600 | $59,700 – $71,300 |
Related projects, priced for Athens
Because every project leans on different trades, Athens's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −8% and home addition −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,900 | −14% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,050 – $13,800 | −8% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $32,500 – $65,900 | −14% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −9% |
Athens against nearby metros and the rest of Georgia
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Atlanta is the priciest of the group at $24,500. Macon is the cheapest at $23,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GAthis page | $17,200 – $29,300 | $23,300 | |
| Gainesville, GA45 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | +1% |
| Greenville, SC70 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
| Atlanta, GA70 miles | $18,200 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +5% |
| Augusta, GA80 miles | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +3% |
| Macon, GA80 miles | $17,100 – $29,100 | $23,100 | −1% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,100 | +4% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Athens comes in at #246 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Athens is 3% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $18,200 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +5% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +3% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | +1% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $17,100 – $29,200 | $23,200 | −1% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | +1% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $17,100 – $29,100 | $23,100 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Athens's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Athens against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $19,500 – $33,200 | $26,300 | +13% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $16,500 – $28,100 | $22,300 | −4% |
| Binghamton, NY | 97,030 jobs | $18,900 – $32,100 | $25,500 | +9% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $17,100 – $29,100 | $23,100 | −1% |
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Kitchen remodel in Athens: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Athens?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,200 to $29,300 in the Athens area. A standard-spec job lands at $20,900 to $25,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Athens?
About $140 to $233 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $470 to $1,400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Athens or Gainesville?
Gainesville is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,400, which is 1% more than Athens ($23,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Athens?
About 17% at the midpoint, or $4,050 out of $23,300. Materials are 79% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Athens?
$28,400 to $48,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Athens?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $470 to $1,400 for fees in the Athens area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Athens expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Georgia?
Athens is 3% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($24,100 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Athens?
The BLS median is $21.51 an hour in the Athens area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.97 to $25.72.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Athens?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,200 to $22,100 and premium work $24,500 to $29,300. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Athens
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 Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 70% of the low installed price and 85% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that professional labor is 15-30% of a kitchen remodeling budget. Cost to Renovate's mid-range kitchen split (45% labor, 50% materials) sits inside that band.