If you've been dreaming about tearing out those 1990s oak cabinets or finally getting an island big enough for the whole family, the first question is almost always the same: What is this going to cost me?
At Century City Baths, we've spent years helping homeowners across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs renovate kitchens and bathrooms — from Lincoln Park condos and Berwyn bungalows to Naperville colonials and Oak Park two-flats. We know that a clear, honest number up front makes the entire process less stressful.
So let's talk real numbers. Below is a complete breakdown of what a kitchen remodel costs nationally, what it costs here in Chicagoland, and where every dollar actually goes.
The Short Answer: Average Kitchen Remodel Cost
Nationally, the average kitchen remodel runs around $26,000, but that figure covers everything from a simple cosmetic refresh to a partial update. Once you break remodels into quality tiers, the picture gets much clearer:
| Remodel Tier | Typical Starting Cost | What You Get | |---|---|---| | Budget / Cosmetic | $21,000+ | Stock cabinets, laminate or entry-level quartz, existing layout, builder-grade appliances | | Mid-Grade | $46,000+ | Semi-custom cabinets, quartz countertops, new flooring, some layout changes, name-brand appliances | | High-End | $70,000+ | Custom cabinetry, natural stone, panel-ready appliances, full layout reconfiguration, designer finishes |
These are starting points, not ceilings. A high-end gut renovation in a Gold Coast condo or a Hinsdale custom home can easily climb past $125,000 depending on scope, square footage, and finish selections.
What About Chicagoland Specifically?
Costs in the Chicago metro area typically run 10% to 20% above the national average, largely due to labor rates, union trades, permit requirements, and the age of our housing stock. Here's a realistic range for our market:
- Small kitchen (under 100 sq ft): $20,000 – $45,000
- Average kitchen (100–200 sq ft): $35,000 – $75,000
- Large kitchen (200+ sq ft): $60,000 – $150,000+
City of Chicago projects tend to sit at the higher end of these ranges compared to outlying suburbs, especially in buildings with elevator-only access, restricted work hours, or condo association requirements.
Where the Money Actually Goes: A Line-by-Line Breakdown
Understanding the percentage breakdown helps you know where to splurge and where to save. Here's how a typical mid-grade kitchen remodel budget gets allocated:
Cabinetry — 25% to 35% of Budget
Typical cost: $8,000 – $30,000+
Cabinets are almost always the single largest line item. Your three main options:
- Stock cabinets: $100–$300 per linear foot. Pre-made, limited sizes and finishes, fastest lead times.
- Semi-custom: $150–$650 per linear foot. The sweet spot for most homeowners — real choice in door styles, finishes, and organizational inserts.
- Custom: $500–$1,200+ per linear foot. Built to your exact dimensions. Ideal for older Chicago homes with odd angles, radiators, or non-standard ceiling heights.
Money-saving tip: If your existing cabinet boxes are solid wood and in good shape, refacing or refinishing can cut this cost by 40–60%.
Labor & Installation — 20% to 35% of Budget
Typical cost: $7,000 – $30,000
This covers demolition, carpentry, installation, and project management. In the Chicago area, skilled trade labor runs roughly $75–$150 per hour depending on the trade. Labor is also where you get what you pay for — a poorly installed $20,000 kitchen looks worse than a well-installed $10,000 one.
Countertops — 10% to 15% of Budget
Typical cost: $2,000 – $10,000
Installed costs per square foot:
- Laminate: $25–$60
- Butcher block: $45–$100
- Granite: $50–$120
- Quartz: $60–$150
- Marble: $75–$250
- Porcelain slab / Dekton: $90–$200
Quartz remains the most requested material in our Chicagoland projects — it handles heavy family use, resists staining, and never needs sealing.
Appliances — 10% to 20% of Budget
Typical cost: $3,000 – $20,000+
A basic matched suite (refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave) starts around $3,000–$5,000. Step up to brands like Bosch, KitchenAid, or Café and you're looking at $8,000–$15,000. Professional-grade packages — Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador — begin around $20,000 and go well past $40,000.
Flooring — 5% to 10% of Budget
Typical cost: $1,500 – $7,000
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP): $4–$10/sq ft installed
- Porcelain or ceramic tile: $9–$25/sq ft installed
- Engineered hardwood: $10–$20/sq ft installed
- Solid hardwood: $12–$25/sq ft installed
In older Chicago homes, we often find multiple layers of old flooring, which adds demolition time — and sometimes reveals subfloor repairs that need addressing.
Plumbing — 4% to 8% of Budget
Typical cost: $1,000 – $6,000
Swapping a sink and faucet in place is inexpensive. Moving the sink to a new wall or island is where costs climb, especially in homes with concrete slabs or finished basements below.
Electrical & Lighting — 4% to 8% of Budget
Typical cost: $1,500 – $7,000
Modern kitchens need far more circuits than homes built before 1980 were designed to handle. Expect to budget for:
- Dedicated appliance circuits
- GFCI outlets along countertops
- Recessed can lighting
- Under-cabinet task lighting
- Pendant fixtures over islands
If your home still has knob-and-tube wiring or a 100-amp panel (common in pre-war Chicago properties), a panel upgrade may be required — typically $2,000–$4,500.
Backsplash — 2% to 5% of Budget
Typical cost: $600 – $3,500
Subway tile remains the value champion at $10–$25/sq ft installed. Handmade zellige, mosaic, or full-height slab backsplashes can run $40–$150/sq ft.
Sink, Faucet & Fixtures — 2% to 5% of Budget
Typical cost: $600 – $4,000
Permits & Design Fees — 3% to 8% of Budget
Typical cost: $500 – $6,000
City of Chicago building permits for kitchen work typically run $300–$1,500+ depending on scope. Suburban municipalities vary widely. Professional design services generally run 5–15% of total project cost, though many design-build firms (including ours) fold design into the overall contract.
Contingency — Always 10% to 20%
Typical cost: $3,000 – $12,000
This is non-negotiable in our opinion. Chicagoland homes average 70+ years old. Behind those walls you may find galvanized plumbing, outdated wiring, water damage, or sagging joists. A contingency fund turns a crisis into a line item.
What Drives Your Cost Up (or Down)
Factors That Increase Cost
- Moving plumbing, gas, or electrical lines — relocating a sink, range, or refrigerator can add $1,500–$6,000 each
- Removing walls — load-bearing wall removal with a new beam runs $4,000–$15,000 in most Chicago homes
- Older homes — asbestos abatement, lead-safe practices, and knob-and-tube replacement all add cost
- Condo and high-rise work — freight elevator reservations, building insurance requirements, limited work hours, and union labor rules
- Custom sizing — 9- and 10-foot ceilings in vintage buildings often require custom cabinetry or stacked uppers
- Appliance upgrades — a single built-in refrigerator can cost more than an entire budget cabinet package
Factors That Lower Cost
- Keeping your existing layout — this is the single biggest money-saver, often cutting 20–30% off the total
- Refacing instead of replacing cabinets
- Choosing quartz remnants or mid-tier granite
- Open shelving on one wall instead of full upper cabinets
- Scheduling in winter — January through March is typically a slower season for contractors in the Midwest
- Ordering early — rush orders and expedited shipping add real cost
What's the Return on Investment?
Kitchen remodels consistently rank among the best home improvement investments. In the Midwest, homeowners typically recoup:
- Minor/mid-range kitchen remodel: 70–85% of cost at resale
- Major mid-range remodel: 50–60%
- Upscale remodel: 35–50%
The counterintuitive takeaway: moderate remodels return more on a percentage basis than luxury ones. If resale is your primary goal, a well-executed mid-grade kitchen with durable, neutral finishes almost always beats a high-end showpiece. If you're staying put for 10+ years, build the kitchen you actually want.
A Realistic Chicagoland Timeline
| Phase | Duration | |---|---| | Design & planning | 2–6 weeks | | Permitting (if required) | 2–8 weeks | | Cabinet lead time | 4–12 weeks | | Demolition | 2–4 days | | Rough plumbing/electrical | 3–7 days | | Drywall, paint, flooring | 1–2 weeks | | Cabinet installation | 3–7 days | | Countertop templating & install | 1–3 weeks | | Backsplash, fixtures, punch list | 1–2 weeks |
Total project time: 8–16 weeks from contract to completion, with the active construction window typically running 5–8 weeks.
How to Budget Smart: Our Advice
1. Start with your must-haves, not your Pinterest board. Write down the three things that bother you most about your current kitchen. Solve those first. Everything else is optional.
2. Allocate before you shop. Decide what percentage goes to cabinets, counters, and appliances before you walk into a showroom. It prevents the slow creep that blows budgets.
3. Spend on what you touch and use daily. Cabinet hardware, faucets, and drawer glides get used thousands of times a year. Cheap versions fail fast. Decorative elements can be dialed back without affecting daily life.
4. Don't fight your floor plan without a reason. Moving the sink three feet "because it looks better" can cost thousands. Make sure layout changes genuinely improve function.
5. Get a detailed, itemized proposal. A one-page estimate with a single number is a red flag. You should see allowances, specific product lines, and a clear scope of work.
6. Verify licensing and insurance. In Illinois, confirm your contractor carries general liability and workers' compensation coverage, and that any required municipal licensing is current.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remodel a kitchen for under $20,000 in Chicagoland? Yes — if you keep your existing layout, use stock cabinets or refacing, choose laminate or entry-level quartz, and keep appliances. A cosmetic refresh in the $12,000–$20,000 range is achievable for a small-to-average kitchen.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Chicago? If you're only replacing cabinets, counters, and appliances in place, generally no. If you're moving plumbing or electrical, removing walls, or altering the structure, yes. Suburban requirements vary by village — we handle permitting as part of our process.
How much should I set aside for surprises? Minimum 10% for homes built after 1980, and 15–20% for anything older. Chicago's housing stock is beautiful, but it hides things.
Should I live in my home during the remodel? Most people do. Plan on setting up a temporary kitchen with a microwave, coffee maker, and mini-fridge in another room. Expect 4–8 weeks without a functioning kitchen.
What's the most common budget mistake? Underestimating labor and overestimating how much "doing some of it yourself" will save. DIY demo can save $800–$2,000; DIY tile or cabinet installation often costs more in the end.
Ready to Price Out Your Kitchen?
Every kitchen is different, and no online calculator can account for the realities of your specific home — the age of your wiring, the condition of your subfloor, the quirks of your building's association rules.
That's why we offer free, no-pressure in-home consultations throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. We'll walk your space, talk through what's possible, and give you a transparent, itemized estimate you can actually plan around.
Century City Baths has built its reputation across Chicagoland on honest pricing, clean job sites, and craftsmanship that holds up decade after decade. Whether you're planning a $25,000 refresh or a $90,000 gut renovation, we'd love to help you get it right.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and estimate.
