Water Damage Restoration Cost Index: 50 U.S. Cities Compared (2026)
By the WaterDamageCosts.com research team · Last updated August 17, 2026
How much water damage restoration costs depends heavily on where you live. This index ranks typical restoration costs across the 50 largest U.S. metro markets we track, using the same dataset that powers our individual city guides. Each city links to a full local breakdown by damage class, water category, flood risk, and insurance coverage.
All 50 Cities, Ranked by Typical Cost
Click any column header to re-sort. "Vs. avg" compares the city's typical cost to the 50-city average of $3,465.
| # | City | Low | Typical | High | Vs. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $1,650 | $4,600 | $10,200 | +33% |
| 2 | Honolulu, HI | $1,600 | $4,350 | $9,700 | +26% |
| 3 | New York, NY | $1,600 | $4,300 | $9,800 | +24% |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $1,550 | $4,200 | $9,500 | +21% |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $1,550 | $4,150 | $9,400 | +20% |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $1,500 | $4,100 | $9,200 | +18% |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $1,500 | $4,050 | $9,100 | +17% |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $1,450 | $3,950 | $8,700 | +14% |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $1,450 | $3,900 | $8,600 | +13% |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $1,400 | $3,850 | $8,500 | +11% |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $1,400 | $3,800 | $8,400 | +10% |
| 12 | Anaheim, CA | $1,400 | $3,800 | $8,400 | +10% |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $1,400 | $3,750 | $8,300 | +8% |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $1,350 | $3,700 | $8,100 | +7% |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | $1,350 | $3,700 | $8,200 | +7% |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $1,300 | $3,650 | $7,900 | +5% |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $1,300 | $3,600 | $7,800 | +4% |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $1,300 | $3,550 | $7,700 | +2% |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $1,300 | $3,550 | $7,800 | +2% |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $1,300 | $3,550 | $7,800 | +2% |
| 21 | Atlanta, GA | $1,300 | $3,500 | $7,700 | +1% |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | $1,250 | $3,450 | $7,600 | −0% |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $1,250 | $3,400 | $7,400 | −2% |
| 24 | Fort Worth, TX | $1,250 | $3,400 | $7,500 | −2% |
| 25 | New Orleans, LA | $1,250 | $3,400 | $7,500 | −2% |
| 26 | Aurora, CO | $1,250 | $3,400 | $7,500 | −2% |
| 27 | San Antonio, TX | $1,200 | $3,300 | $7,200 | −5% |
| 28 | Charlotte, NC | $1,200 | $3,300 | $7,300 | −5% |
| 29 | Raleigh, NC | $1,200 | $3,300 | $7,300 | −5% |
| 30 | Tampa, FL | $1,200 | $3,300 | $7,300 | −5% |
| 31 | Nashville, TN | $1,200 | $3,250 | $7,200 | −6% |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO | $1,200 | $3,250 | $7,200 | −6% |
| 33 | Virginia Beach, VA | $1,200 | $3,250 | $7,200 | −6% |
| 34 | Arlington, TX | $1,200 | $3,250 | $7,200 | −6% |
| 35 | Jacksonville, FL | $1,200 | $3,200 | $7,100 | −8% |
| 36 | Fresno, CA | $1,200 | $3,200 | $7,100 | −8% |
| 37 | Mesa, AZ | $1,200 | $3,200 | $7,100 | −8% |
| 38 | Columbus, OH | $1,150 | $3,100 | $6,900 | −11% |
| 39 | Kansas City, MO | $1,150 | $3,100 | $6,900 | −11% |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $1,150 | $3,100 | $6,900 | −11% |
| 41 | Milwaukee, WI | $1,150 | $3,050 | $6,800 | −12% |
| 42 | Corpus Christi, TX | $1,150 | $3,050 | $6,800 | −12% |
| 43 | Indianapolis, IN | $1,100 | $3,000 | $6,700 | −13% |
| 44 | Louisville, KY | $1,100 | $2,980 | $6,600 | −14% |
| 45 | Oklahoma City, OK | $1,100 | $2,950 | $6,600 | −15% |
| 46 | Tucson, AZ | $1,100 | $2,920 | $6,500 | −16% |
| 47 | El Paso, TX | $1,100 | $2,900 | $6,500 | −16% |
| 48 | Memphis, TN | $1,100 | $2,900 | $6,500 | −16% |
| 49 | Albuquerque, NM | $1,100 | $2,880 | $6,400 | −17% |
| 50 | Omaha, NE | $1,100 | $2,870 | $6,400 | −17% |
Regional Patterns
Northeast markets (2 cities) average $4,050; West markets (20 cities) average $3,630; South markets (21 cities) average $3,330; Midwest markets (7 cities) average $3,231. Coastal metros with high labor costs — led by San Francisco, Honolulu, and New York — sit at the top of the index, while Omaha, Albuquerque, and Memphis anchor the low end.
Methodology
Cost figures represent typical residential water damage restoration projects: the low end reflects contained, clean-water incidents caught early; the high end reflects large or contaminated losses requiring demolition and rebuild. Tiers follow the IICRC S500 standard's damage classes (1–4) and water categories (1–3). Estimates are compiled from publicly available contractor pricing data, industry reports, homeowner cost surveys, and regional labor market data, and are reviewed annually. See our About page for details; each city guide lists its local sources.