Kitchen remodel cost in Traverse City, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,500 – $29,700
- Per sq ft
- $142 – $236
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #186
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Traverse City area: $17,500 to $29,700 for 120 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 6% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Traverse City, MI, standard level
$21,100 to $26,000
About $170 to $208 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 20% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $4,350 | $5,300 |
| Permits and fees | $750 | $1,100 |
| Total | $21,100 | $26,000 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Traverse City, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 76% |
| Labor | $3,600 | $4,800 | $6,050 | 20% |
| Permits and fees | $470 | $930 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $17,500 | $23,600 | $29,700 | 100% |
Where the Traverse City price comes from
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, Traverse City wages are 0.97 times the national level. Labor makes up about 20% of the midpoint estimate (20% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Traverse City is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $17,800 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.4: $470 to $1,400.
Data note: 10% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Traverse City. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Traverse City quotes can differ
Permit
Kitchen remodel permits are $500-$1,500 and are usually based on project value.
Scope
A full kitchen update is $15,000-$50,000, a large remodel $50,000-$70,000+, and a partial refresh $60-$150 per square foot (HomeGuide).
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.
How Traverse City compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 120 sq ft range from $23,500 to $24,400 across Traverse City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MIthis page | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | |
| Green Bay, WI110 miles | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +3% |
| Muskegon, MI110 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| Sheboygan, WI125 miles | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +4% |
| Appleton, WI130 miles | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +3% |
| Grand Rapids, MI135 miles | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | +1% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $18,200 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +4% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Traverse City ranks #186 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Traverse City is 4% below the Michigan figure.
Elsewhere in Michigan
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $18,800 – $32,000 | $25,400 | +8% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | +1% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $18,000 – $30,700 | $24,300 | +3% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | +3% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,100 | +2% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,100 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Traverse City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $18,400 – $31,400 | $24,900 | +6% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $17,600 – $29,900 | $23,800 | +1% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −1% |
Who does the work: Traverse City trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Traverse City the blend is 0.97.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $28.47 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.71 and $30.60 an hour. About 420 work in the metro. That is 61.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $29.64 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.86 and $37.07 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 57.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% of the weighting: a median of $30.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.77 and $43.29 an hour. About 190 work in the metro. That is 27.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Traverse City metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median: $23.05 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.17 and $30.08 an hour.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.80 an hour, which is 5% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $22.95 and $29.91 an hour. BLS counts 30 of them working in the area, 4.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $25.00 an hour, 5% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.54 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 26.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $160 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $440. That is a swing of roughly 1.9% to 0.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Traverse City has 68,440 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 264th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $22.71 | $28.47 | $30.60 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $22.86 | $29.64 | $37.07 | $30.38 | 0.98 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $24.77 | $30.34 | $43.29 | $30.67 | 0.99 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $20.17 | $23.05 | $30.08 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.95 | $26.80 | $29.91 | $28.33 | 0.95 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $21.90 | $25.00 | $28.54 | $23.75 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Traverse City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Traverse City. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (100 sq ft) to large kitchen (300 sq ft).
Basic
$17,500 to $22,400
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,100 to $26,000
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,800 to $29,700
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,600 – $18,800 | $17,700 – $21,900 | $20,800 – $25,000 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,500 – $22,400 | $21,100 – $26,000 | $24,800 – $29,700 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,800 – $36,700 | $34,700 – $42,600 | $40,700 – $48,600 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $42,900 – $54,600 | $51,700 – $63,400 | $60,500 – $72,200 |
Planning more than one job in Traverse City?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Traverse City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, home addition comes out highest (−4%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,050 – $13,400 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,100 | −5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $36,600 – $74,100 | −4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −9% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $21,100 to $26,000 for Traverse City, MI is attached.
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Kitchen remodel in Traverse City: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Traverse City?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,500 to $29,700 in the Traverse City area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,100 to $26,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Traverse City?
About $142 to $236 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 Traverse City or Green Bay?
Green Bay is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,300, which is 3% more than Traverse City ($23,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Traverse City?
About 20% at the midpoint, or $4,800 out of $23,600. Materials are 76% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Traverse City?
$28,800 to $48,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Traverse City?
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 Traverse City area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Traverse City expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Michigan?
Traverse City is 4% below the Michigan statewide estimate ($24,500 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Traverse City?
The BLS median is $28.47 an hour in the Traverse City area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.71 to $30.60.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Traverse City?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,500 to $22,400 and premium work $24,800 to $29,700. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Traverse City
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.