Kitchen remodel cost in Albuquerque, NM
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,800 – $30,300
- Per sq ft
- $144 – $240
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #133
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a kitchen in Albuquerque, plan on $17,800 to $30,300 for 120 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $144 to $240 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM, standard level
$21,500 to $26,500
About $173 to $211 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 20% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,100 |
| Labor | $4,300 | $5,250 |
| Permits and fees | $760 | $1,150 |
| Total | $21,500 | $26,500 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $18,300 | $22,900 | 76% |
| Labor | $3,600 | $4,800 | $5,950 | 20% |
| Permits and fees | $480 | $960 | $1,450 | 4% |
| Total | $17,800 | $24,000 | $30,300 | 100% |
Where the Albuquerque price comes from
Labor is 20% of the midpoint bill here, against 20% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (45%), electricians (15%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (15%), tile and stone setters (10%), drywall and ceiling tile installers (10%), painters, construction and maintenance (5%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Albuquerque the blended ratio comes out at 0.96.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Albuquerque metro is 96.1 (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 (95.5) and land at $480 to $1,450.
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
$17,800 to $22,800
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,500 to $26,500
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,300 to $30,300
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,900 – $19,100 | $18,100 – $22,300 | $21,200 – $25,500 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,800 – $22,800 | $21,500 – $26,500 | $25,300 – $30,300 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,300 – $37,400 | $35,400 – $43,400 | $41,400 – $49,500 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,700 – $55,600 | $52,700 – $64,600 | $61,600 – $73,500 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Albuquerque bid
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+.
Albuquerque labor market for kitchen 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 0.96 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) 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), 15% 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.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) 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 10%) 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.
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 5%) 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 carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($31.48 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $200. At the 25th percentile ($23.21) it shrinks by about $440. The total moves by 0.8% or 1.8%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $23.21 | $28.89 | $31.48 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $22.37 | $28.43 | $35.04 | $30.38 | 0.94 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $22.50 | $30.72 | $37.83 | $30.67 | 1.00 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $16.86 | $22.13 | $23.29 | $26.77 | 0.83 | 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) | 5% | $19.45 | $22.21 | $23.98 | $23.75 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,100 | −5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,200 | −5% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $36,300 – $73,600 | −4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,650 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −9% |
Is Albuquerque cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $22,500 to $24,000 across Albuquerque and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMthis page | $17,800 – $30,300 | $24,000 | |
| Santa Fe, NM40 miles | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM195 miles | $17,400 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Pueblo, CO235 miles | $17,800 – $30,200 | $24,000 | level |
| El Paso, TX255 miles | $16,600 – $28,300 | $22,500 | −6% |
| Amarillo, TX255 miles | $16,900 – $28,800 | $22,900 | −5% |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Albuquerque comes in at #133 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Albuquerque is 0% above the New Mexico figure.
Other New Mexico metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $17,400 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
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 | $18,100 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +2% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $18,600 – $31,800 | $25,200 | +5% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
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Kitchen remodel in Albuquerque: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Albuquerque?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,800 to $30,300 in the Albuquerque area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,500 to $26,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Albuquerque?
About $144 to $240 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $480 to $1,450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Albuquerque or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,800, which is 1% less than Albuquerque ($24,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albuquerque?
About 20% at the midpoint, or $4,800 out of $24,000. Materials are 76% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Albuquerque?
$29,300 to $49,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Albuquerque?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $480 to $1,450 for fees in the Albuquerque area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albuquerque expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of New Mexico?
Albuquerque is 0% above the New Mexico statewide estimate ($23,900 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Mexico; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Albuquerque?
The BLS median is $28.89 an hour in the Albuquerque area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.21 to $31.48.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Albuquerque?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,800 to $22,800 and premium work $25,300 to $30,300. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen 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 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.