How Much Does a Remodel Cost in Austin and the Hill Country?
Published October 21, 2026
A remodel in Austin and the Hill Country costs about $15,000 to $100,000 for a kitchen, about $100,000 to $400,000 for a backyard ADU, and about $100,000 to $500,000 for a whole house. A kitchen takes about 9 to 19 weeks. An ADU takes about 12 weeks to 8 months. These are estimates. Your project's size, scope and finishes set the real number, and your address decides which permit office you deal with.
How much does a remodel cost in Austin, project by project?
A kitchen runs about $15,000 to $100,000, a backyard ADU about $100,000 to $400,000, and a whole house about $100,000 to $500,000. Here are the tiers.
| Project | Budget | Midrange | Premium | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | $15,000 to $25,000 | $25,000 to $50,000 | $50,000 to $100,000 | About 9 to 19 weeks |
| Backyard ADU | $100,000 to $150,000 | $150,001 to $250,000 | $250,001 to $400,000 | About 12 weeks to 8 months |
| Whole house | $100,000 to $150,000 | $150,001 to $250,000 | $250,001 to $500,000 | Set by your scope |
Each project has its own guide with the details. The short version of each is below.
What does a kitchen remodel cost in Austin?
A kitchen remodel costs about $15,000 to $100,000 and takes about 9 to 19 weeks, planning through finish. Materials and layout choices move the price, and so does size. Two kitchens the same size can cost very different amounts. See the full breakdown in what a kitchen remodel costs in Austin.
What does an ADU cost to build in Austin?
A detached backyard ADU costs about $100,000 to $400,000 and takes about 12 weeks to 8 months, with 4 to 8 weeks for permits. In the City of Austin, your lot needs SF-1, SF-2 or SF-3 zoning and at least 5,750 sq ft, and utility fees can add to the build. The lot rules, permit time and utility charges are in what an ADU costs to build in Austin.
What does a whole-house remodel cost in Austin?
A whole-house remodel costs about $100,000 to $500,000. Scope moves the price: how many rooms you change, and whether you move walls, rewire, replumb or fix the foundation. The surprises sit behind the drywall, so keep a contingency fund. More in what a whole-house remodel costs in Austin.
Is $100,000 enough to renovate a house in Austin?
$100,000 is the low end of the whole-house budget range, which runs about $100,000 to $150,000. Where a project lands in the full range depends on scope, from cosmetic work to moving walls, rewiring and replumbing.
Is $30,000 enough for a kitchen remodel?
Yes, $30,000 falls inside the kitchen midrange tier, about $25,000 to $50,000. How far it goes depends on whether your layout stays put or the sink, range and walls move.
How much does it cost to remodel a 2,000 sq ft house?
Size alone cannot price a 2,000 sq ft house. Size sets how much you buy, and your scope and finishes move the price too, which is why size comes first and is not the last word.
Why does size come first when you price a remodel?
Size sets how much of everything you buy: floor, walls, cabinets, counters, fixtures and labor hours. That makes it the first thing to know about your project. It is not the last word, though. In every project above, the layout changes and the finish level you pick can move the price up or down at the same size.
So when you ask anyone what your remodel costs, give them three things: the size, what you want to change, and the finish level you have in mind. With those, you can get a real range. Without them, you get an average.
What about bathrooms, additions and garage conversions?
They are priced per job from your scope. A bathroom depends on whether the shower, tub and toilet stay where they are. An addition depends on its size, whether it goes out or up, and what it ties into. A garage conversion depends on what the slab, walls and wiring need to become living space. For any of these, an on-site walkthrough and an itemized quote give you a real number.
Why does your address decide your permit office?
The parcel decides who issues your permit, not the ZIP code. One ZIP like 78737 can hold City of Austin lots, Dripping Springs lots and unincorporated county lots. Before you plan, look up your address on the county's jurisdiction map.
Here is how the offices around 78737 differ:
- City of Austin. A kitchen or bath remodel that does not move or remove walls can often get an Express permit, which the city says usually issues in about one business day. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are separate.
- Dripping Springs. Permits run through the city's online portal, and your property needs a Hays County 911 address first. The city has up to 5 business days to accept an application. Projects in city limits and in the city's outer area get a planning review, even when no city building permit is needed.
- Bee Cave. You need a permit to move or remove interior walls, for electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, for additions, and to finish an attic or garage into living space. A city permit does not replace HOA approval.
- Lakeway. The city requires permits for remodeling, additions and rewiring. For small repairs, ask the city's Building and Development Services first whether you need one.
- Unincorporated Hays County. Interior work outside the floodplain does not need a county development permit. There is no county zoning, so deed restrictions are the main limit. Adding bedrooms can mean a bigger septic system.
- Unincorporated Travis County. A remodel permit needs a site plan, a floor plan, your TCAD legal description and an estimated cost. If a builder's work raises your home's square footage or value by 50%, third-party inspections are required.
What pushes any remodel past its first price?
Across every project, the same few things raise the price: moving walls, plumbing or gas; an electrical panel too small for the new work; a septic system that has to grow when you add bedrooms on a lot without sewer; work in a floodplain; and changes after demo. If you know about these before you get a quote, you can plan for them instead of finding them mid-job.
What do these prices include?
These ranges are estimates for the whole project, not a quote. Your real price comes as an itemized quote with final pricing, where each part of the job has its own line. That lets you see what each choice costs and compare bids line by line. A lower bid that leaves out lines is not really lower.
What is the next step?
Pick the project you are pricing and read its guide above. When you are ready for your own number, book a free, no-obligation consultation. You work directly with the owner, who is on site managing the crew. See all remodeling services to start.