Bathroom costs

The typical project, adjusted by each metro's measured labour index. The spread between the cheapest and the dearest metro is 56% on identical work.

Price bathroom work

The typical one runs $23,610 in Chicago against $15,090 in San Antonio. The calculator below does the same for all 20. The method sets out where the factor comes from.

Questions

What separates the cheapest bathroom job from the dearest?

Scope, and specifically whether plumbing moves. A toilet install runs $200 – $700 and a full remodel $10,000 – $30,000; the rough-in that lets a fixture change position is $1,500 – $5,000 on its own.

Is a walk-in shower cheaper than replacing the tub?

Not on these figures. A bathtub replacement runs $1,500 – $8,000 and a walk-in shower $4,000 – $20,000. A tub-to-shower conversion sits between the two at $3,000 – $10,000, because it reuses the existing drain position.

Does a small bathroom cost proportionally less?

Less, but not in proportion to the floor area. A small remodel runs $3,000 – $15,000 against $10,000 – $30,000 for a full one — fixture count, waterproofing and plumbing connections do not shrink with the room.

Why is regrouting listed beside a remodel?

Because they answer the same question at two budgets. Regrouting a shower runs $300 – $2,000 and retiling it $1,200 – $7,000. Both sit on the list above so the gap between the cheap fix and the real one is visible.