Remodel Estimator › California counties › Santa Cruz
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Remodel and repair costs in Santa Cruz County, California
Budgets for 15 common projects, priced at the hourly rates contractors bill in Santa Cruz County, with local sales tax (9.25% to 9.75%) and permit fees. Example ZIP: 95060 (Santa Cruz).
Budget estimate, not a bid, appraisal, or insurance claim valuation. Get licensed contractor bids. Pilot.
Santa Cruz County at a glance
Santa Cruz County had 270,861 residents in the 2020 Census across 445 square miles; the largest places are Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Live Oak, Scotts Valley and Soquel. Across 15 projects, a typical Santa Cruz County budget is 2% above the median California county, the 21st highest of 58 counties. A mid-finish kitchen remodel here comes to about $49,500, the 20th highest of 58.
What projects cost in Santa Cruz County
Typical size for each project (see each cost guide for the details), ZIP 95060. Likely is the median of 4,000 simulated outcomes; the range is the 10th to 90th percentile. "Vs. state" compares the mid likely budget with the median of all 58 California counties. Basic assumes the lower-cost starting choices, for example laminate counters, an acrylic tub wall set and pressure-treated wood decking.
| Project | Basic | Mid (likely) | Mid range | Premium | Vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel · estimate | $40,300 | $49,500 | $42,000–$59,300 | $68,300 | +2% |
| Kitchen refresh · estimate | $12,800 | $15,900 | $13,600–$18,900 | $18,500 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel · estimate | $19,300 | $23,400 | $19,100–$29,200 | $28,400 | +2% |
| Roof replacement · estimate | $12,600 | $12,700 | $11,000–$14,700 | $13,000 | same |
| New flooring · estimate | $7,400 | $8,700 | $7,300–$10,300 | $8,800 | +2% |
| Interior painting · estimate | $8,600 | $9,400 | $7,900–$11,400 | $9,400 | +1% |
| Exterior painting · estimate | $6,000 | $6,000 | $4,700–$7,600 | $6,200 | +2% |
| New deck · estimate | $16,300 | $18,500 | $15,700–$21,800 | $24,000 | +1% |
| Window replacement · estimate | $7,400 | $8,100 | $7,200–$9,200 | $12,900 | −4% |
| Siding replacement · estimate | $23,400 | $23,200 | $19,600–$27,700 | $23,300 | +2% |
| ADU or room addition · estimate | $216k | $229k | $195k–$271k | $249k | +2% |
| Bedroom or living room refresh · estimate | $5,600 | $6,200 | $5,200–$7,400 | $6,400 | +2% |
| Garage door replacement · estimate | $3,100 | $4,500 | $4,100–$5,000 | $5,900 | +2% |
| Front entry door · estimate | $1,600 | $2,400 | $2,100–$2,700 | $3,500 | +4% |
| Heating and air conditioning · estimate | $13,600 | $16,000 | $14,100–$18,300 | $17,700 | +5% |
Contractor hourly rates in Santa Cruz County
What a contractor bills per hour for each trade, built from the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA wage data (BLS, May 2025), payroll taxes, California workers' comp rates for that trade, and contractor overhead and profit. Not wages.
| Trade | Low | Likely | High | Vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $76 | $104 | $132 | +6% |
| Construction laborer | $52 | $74 | $90 | −1% |
| Electrician | $93 | $130 | $181 | +7% |
| Plumber | $93 | $136 | $200 | +8% |
| Painter | $59 | $81 | $109 | +3% |
| Roofer | $76 | $87 | $112 | −3% |
| Tile and stone setter | $59 | $81 | $127 | +8% |
| Floor layer | $57 | $88 | $142 | +4% |
| Drywall installer | $72 | $92 | $122 | +7% |
| Cement mason | $62 | $80 | $117 | −2% |
| Glazier | $60 | $73 | $109 | −18% |
| HVAC mechanic | $105 | $144 | $200 | +16% |
What drives costs here
- Labor: billed rates in Santa Cruz County are 5% above the median California county (the 11th highest of 58). Wage data: BLS wage data for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area. The highest-billing trades are hvac mechanic ($144/hr) and plumber ($136/hr).
- Sales tax: 9.25% to 9.75%, depending on the city on materials (CDTFA, effective October 1, 2026).
- Permits: estimated from each job's valuation; kitchen and bathroom remodels usually need one, painting usually does not.
- Mountain factor: none of this county's ZIP codes get one.
- Contractor overhead and profit: a separate 10% + 10% line only on jobs with three or more trades; single-trade jobs are priced at the trade's billed rate. No markup on materials.
Open the estimator for ZIP 95060, or enter any of the 22 Santa Cruz County ZIP codes. Method and sources.
Questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Santa Cruz County?
For a 150 sq ft kitchen with 20 ft of base cabinets and new cabinets, counters, floor, lighting and appliances, our likely budget in ZIP 95060 (Santa Cruz) is $49,500 at mid finish, with a range of $42,000 to $59,300. Basic finishes come to about $40,300 and premium to about $68,300. That is the 20th highest of California's 58 counties.
What does a bathroom remodel or a new roof cost in Santa Cruz County?
A 45 sq ft full bathroom remodel is about $23,400 at mid finish ($19,100 to $29,200). A 2,000 sq ft asphalt shingle roof replacement with tear-off is about $12,700, and replacing a central AC and gas furnace is about $16,000.
What do contractors charge per hour in Santa Cruz County?
Our model prices each trade at the rate a contractor bills, not the worker's wage, using BLS wage data for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area. The likely billed rate runs from about $73 an hour (glazier) to about $144 (hvac mechanic), and the typical trade bills 5% above the median California county, the 11th highest of 58.
Are remodels more expensive in Santa Cruz County than elsewhere in California?
The typical project budget here is 2% above the median of all 58 California counties. The project furthest above the state median is heating and air conditioning (+5%); the one furthest below is window replacement (−4%). Sales tax on materials is 9.25% to 9.75%, depending on the city (CDTFA rates effective October 1, 2026).
Which Santa Cruz County ZIP codes does the estimator cover?
All 22 of them, including 7 PO box and single-organization ZIP codes, which are priced the same as the area they serve. Enter any Santa Cruz County ZIP in the estimator.
Is this a quote?
No. It is a budget estimate, not a bid, appraisal, or insurance claim valuation. Get written bids from licensed contractors, and check licenses with the Contractors State License Board.
More cost pages
Central Coast: Monterey County · San Benito County · San Luis Obispo County · Santa Barbara County · All 58 counties
- Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator, California
- Kitchen Refresh Cost Calculator, California
- Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator, California
- Roof Replacement Cost Calculator, California
- Flooring Cost Calculator, California
- Interior Painting Cost Calculator, California
- Exterior House Painting Cost Calculator, California
- Deck Cost Calculator, California
- Window Replacement Cost Calculator, California
- Siding Replacement Cost Calculator, California
- ADU Cost Calculator, California
- Bedroom and Living Room Refresh Cost Calculator, California
- Garage Door Replacement Cost Calculator, California
- Front Door Replacement Cost Calculator, California
- HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator, California
Remodel Estimator is self-serve budgeting software from Caissonix, in pilot. Budget estimate, not a bid, appraisal, or insurance claim valuation. Figures computed 2026-10-29 from price book 2026-10-29.8; they change as prices and wages are updated. Population, land area and places: 2020 Census. Get licensed contractor bids, and check a contractor's license with the Contractors State License Board before you sign.