Kitchen remodel cost in Charleston, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,400 – $29,700
- Per sq ft
- $141 – $235
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #197
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a kitchen in Charleston, plan on $17,400 to $29,700 for 120 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $141 to $235 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $24.22 an hour in the Charleston area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Charleston, SC, standard level
$21,100 to $26,000
About $169 to $206 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 18% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,200 |
| Labor | $3,750 | $4,600 |
| Permits and fees | $810 | $1,200 |
| Total | $21,100 | $26,000 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Charleston, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $18,300 | $22,900 | 78% |
| Labor | $3,150 | $4,200 | $5,250 | 18% |
| Permits and fees | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | 4% |
| Total | $17,400 | $23,500 | $29,700 | 100% |
Where the Charleston 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, Charleston wages are 0.84 times the national level. Labor makes up about 18% of the midpoint estimate (20% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Charleston 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 (101.0) and land at $500 to $1,500.
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 Charleston. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Charleston quotes can differ
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
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).
Charleston: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Charleston 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
$17,400 to $22,300
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,100 to $26,000
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,700 to $29,700
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,600 – $18,700 | $17,700 – $21,800 | $20,800 – $25,000 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,400 – $22,300 | $21,100 – $26,000 | $24,700 – $29,700 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,600 – $36,600 | $34,600 – $42,500 | $40,500 – $48,400 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $42,700 – $54,400 | $51,500 – $63,100 | $60,200 – $71,900 |
Related projects, priced for Charleston
Because every project leans on different trades, Charleston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −6% and home addition −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,700 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,600 – $68,200 | −12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $810 – $2,550 | −10% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,350 | −11% |
Charleston 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 Charleston is 0.84 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $24.22 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.37 and $29.52 an hour. BLS counts 1,240 of them working in the area, 31.5 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 $28.37 an hour, 7% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.54 and $31.81 an hour. About 1,480 work in the metro. That is 37.5 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 $27.58 an hour, which is 10% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.50 and $31.15 an hour. BLS counts 960 of them working in the area, 24.4 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 Charleston metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median: $20.92 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.68 and $26.47 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $18.59 an hour, 34% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $18.36 and $23.51 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 1.8 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 $22.84 an hour, which is 4% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.45 and $25.27 an hour. BLS counts 410 of them working in the area, 10.4 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 ($29.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $410. At the 25th percentile ($21.37) it shrinks by about $220. The total moves by 1.7% or 0.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 394,170 jobs in the Charleston-North Charleston area. That makes it the 66th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $21.37 | $24.22 | $29.52 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $23.54 | $28.37 | $31.81 | $30.38 | 0.93 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $23.50 | $27.58 | $31.15 | $30.67 | 0.90 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $18.68 | $20.92 | $26.47 | $26.77 | 0.78 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $18.36 | $18.59 | $23.51 | $28.33 | 0.66 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $18.45 | $22.84 | $25.27 | $23.75 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Is Charleston cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charleston is the priciest of the group. Myrtle Beach is the cheapest at $23,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SCthis page | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | |
| Hilton Head, SC65 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
| Florence, SC80 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC85 miles | $17,100 – $29,200 | $23,200 | −2% |
| Columbia, SC95 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Savannah, GA95 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Charleston comes in at #197 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Charleston is 0% above the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $17,100 – $29,200 | $23,200 | −2% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −1% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Charleston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charleston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | +1% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,600 | level |
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Kitchen remodel in Charleston: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Charleston?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,400 to $29,700 in the Charleston 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 Charleston?
About $141 to $235 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $500 to $1,500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Charleston or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,400, which is 0% less than Charleston ($23,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charleston?
About 18% at the midpoint, or $4,200 out of $23,500. Materials are 78% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Charleston?
$28,600 to $48,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Charleston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $500 to $1,500 for fees in the Charleston area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charleston expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Charleston is 0% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($23,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Charleston?
The BLS median is $24.22 an hour in the Charleston area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.37 to $29.52.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Charleston?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,400 to $22,300 and premium work $24,700 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 Charleston
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.