Kitchen remodel cost in Columbia, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,300 – $29,400
- Per sq ft
- $140 – $234
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #236
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Columbia area: $17,300 to $29,400 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 7% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $23.11 an hour in the Columbia area, 21% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Columbia, SC, standard level
$20,900 to $25,800
About $168 to $206 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 18% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,200 |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,500 |
| Permits and fees | $750 | $1,100 |
| Total | $20,900 | $25,800 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Columbia, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $18,300 | $22,900 | 78% |
| Labor | $3,100 | $4,100 | $5,150 | 18% |
| Permits and fees | $470 | $940 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $17,300 | $23,400 | $29,400 | 100% |
Where the Columbia price comes from
Labor is 18% 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 Columbia the blended ratio comes out at 0.82.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Columbia is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $18,300 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.7: $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 Columbia. The wage table below marks each row.
Columbia: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Columbia. 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
$17,300 to $22,200
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$20,900 to $25,800
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,600 to $29,400
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,500 – $18,600 | $17,600 – $21,700 | $20,700 – $24,800 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,300 – $22,200 | $20,900 – $25,800 | $24,600 – $29,400 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,500 – $36,400 | $34,400 – $42,200 | $40,300 – $48,100 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $42,500 – $54,100 | $51,200 – $62,800 | $59,900 – $71,500 |
Related projects, priced for Columbia
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Columbia wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−6%) and shower pan lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,300 | −11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $32,900 – $66,800 | −13% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −13% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,350 | −11% |
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Columbia
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+.
Permit
Kitchen remodel permits are $500-$1,500 and are usually based on project value.
How Columbia compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Columbia. Florence is the lowest at about $23,300 (midpoint, 120 sq ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SCthis page | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | |
| Augusta, GA70 miles | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +2% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| Florence, SC70 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | level |
| Charlotte, NC75 miles | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | +1% |
| Greenville, SC90 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Columbia ranks #236 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Columbia is 0% below the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | +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 | −1% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | level |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | +2% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | +1% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $18,600 – $31,800 | $25,200 | +8% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | +1% |
Who does the work: Columbia 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 Columbia the blend is 0.82.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $23.11 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.13 and $28.49 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 22.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $29.03 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $37.27 an hour. BLS counts 1,170 of them working in the area, 29.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% of the weighting: a median of $25.04 an hour, 18% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $30.90 an hour. About 1,060 work in the metro. That is 26.9 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 Columbia 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.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.54 an hour, which is 24% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $20.26 and $22.57 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.3 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 $22.47 an hour, 5% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $17.59 and $23.54 an hour. About 220 work in the metro. That is 5.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $410 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $230. That is a swing of roughly 1.0% to 1.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Columbia has 394,200 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 65th 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% | $20.13 | $23.11 | $28.49 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $23.59 | $29.03 | $37.27 | $30.38 | 0.96 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $22.31 | $25.04 | $30.90 | $30.67 | 0.82 | 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% | $20.26 | $21.54 | $22.57 | $28.33 | 0.76 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $17.59 | $22.47 | $23.54 | $23.75 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Columbia?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,300 to $29,400 in the Columbia area. A standard-spec job lands at $20,900 to $25,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Columbia?
About $140 to $234 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 Columbia or Augusta?
Augusta is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,900, which is 2% more than Columbia ($23,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbia?
About 18% at the midpoint, or $4,100 out of $23,400. Materials are 78% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Columbia?
$28,500 to $48,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Columbia?
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 Columbia area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbia expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Columbia is 0% below 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 Columbia?
The BLS median is $23.11 an hour in the Columbia area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.13 to $28.49.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Columbia?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,300 to $22,200 and premium work $24,600 to $29,400. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Columbia
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.