Kitchen remodel cost in Duluth, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $18,200 – $31,000
- Per sq ft
- $148 – $247
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #100
- 1 = most expensive
Duluth homeowners pay roughly $18,200 to $31,000 to remodel a kitchen at 120 sq ft, or $148 to $247 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Duluth is almost level. Building materials run about 5% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.3).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Duluth, MN, standard level
$22,100 to $27,200
About $178 to $218 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 23% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,300 | $19,900 |
| Labor | $5,050 | $6,150 |
| Permits and fees | $710 | $1,050 |
| Total | $22,100 | $27,200 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,600 | $18,100 | $22,700 | 74% |
| Labor | $4,200 | $5,600 | $7,000 | 23% |
| Permits and fees | $440 | $890 | $1,350 | 4% |
| Total | $18,200 | $24,600 | $31,000 | 100% |
Where the Duluth 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, Duluth wages are 1.13 times the national level. Labor makes up about 23% of the midpoint estimate (20% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Duluth metro is 95.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $18,100, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.8) and land at $440 to $1,350.
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 Duluth. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Duluth
Because every project leans on different trades, Duluth's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +14% and window replacement −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,000 | +7% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $14,800 | −1% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $40,500 – $81,800 | +6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,150 – $3,100 | +14% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,600 | +7% |
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Duluth
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+.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Duluth
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Duluth 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
$18,200 to $23,300
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$22,100 to $27,200
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,900 to $31,000
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $15,300 – $19,600 | $18,500 – $22,800 | $21,700 – $26,000 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $18,200 – $23,300 | $22,100 – $27,200 | $25,900 – $31,000 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $30,100 – $38,400 | $36,300 – $44,600 | $42,500 – $50,800 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $44,900 – $57,200 | $54,100 – $66,300 | $63,300 – $75,500 |
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 Duluth is 1.13 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $29.10 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $36.50 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 49.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $39.76 an hour, 31% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $29.03 and $46.53 an hour. About 680 work in the metro. That is 54.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) the local median is $40.89 an hour, which is 33% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.49 and $47.17 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 33.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Duluth metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median: $33.92 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.69 and $34.50 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.95 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $23.29 and $35.68 an hour. About 40 work in the metro. That is 3.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $23.90 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $20.95 and $30.52 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 9.6 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 ($36.50 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $570. At the 25th percentile ($23.05) it shrinks by about $470. The total moves by 2.3% or 1.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,710 jobs in the Duluth area. That makes it the 173rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $23.05 | $29.10 | $36.50 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $29.03 | $39.76 | $46.53 | $30.38 | 1.31 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $28.49 | $40.89 | $47.17 | $30.67 | 1.33 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $29.69 | $33.92 | $34.50 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.29 | $28.95 | $35.68 | $28.33 | 1.02 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $20.95 | $23.90 | $30.52 | $23.75 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Duluth against nearby metros and the rest of Minnesota
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Minneapolis is the priciest of the group at $27,000. Wausau is the cheapest at $23,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $18,200 – $31,000 | $24,600 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $18,300 – $31,100 | $24,700 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $20,000 – $34,100 | $27,000 | +10% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | −2% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | −3% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $17,800 – $30,300 | $24,100 | −2% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $19,200 – $32,700 | $26,000 | +6% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Duluth comes in at #100 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Duluth is 5% below the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $20,000 – $34,100 | $27,000 | +10% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $18,400 – $31,200 | $24,800 | +1% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $18,300 – $31,100 | $24,700 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Duluth's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $17,300 – $29,600 | $23,400 | −5% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | −1% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +2% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $16,900 – $28,800 | $22,900 | −7% |
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Kitchen remodel in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Duluth?
For 120 sq ft, expect $18,200 to $31,000 in the Duluth area. A standard-spec job lands at $22,100 to $27,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Duluth?
About $148 to $247 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $440 to $1,350 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,700, which is 0% more than Duluth ($24,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
About 23% at the midpoint, or $5,600 out of $24,600. Materials are 74% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Duluth?
$30,100 to $50,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Duluth?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $440 to $1,350 for fees in the Duluth area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 5% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($26,000 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Duluth?
The BLS median is $29.10 an hour in the Duluth area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.05 to $36.50.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Duluth?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $18,200 to $23,300 and premium work $25,900 to $31,000. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Duluth
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.