Septic System Cost by City (2026)

Septic system installation or replacement including tank, drain field, and permits. Pricing varies meaningfully by city — coastal metros run 30-60% above the national average while affordable Sun Belt and Midwest markets run 5-20% below.

National avg
$7,500
Budget
$3,000
High-end
$18,000
43 cities covered
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Septic System

Estimate your septic system cost

Include in estimate:
Get a city-specific estimate → Pick your city below

Cost breakdown — national average septic system

Septic tank
30%
$2,300
Labor & excavation
30%
$2,300
Drain field materials
15%
$1,100
Distribution box
$400
Piping
$600
Permits & perc test
$500
Restoration
$400

Most and least expensive cities

Most expensive

  1. 1.San Francisco, CA$11,800
  2. 2.San Jose, CA$11,400
  3. 3.New York, NY$11,200
  4. 4.Brooklyn, NY$10,600
  5. 5.Los Angeles, CA$10,300

Least expensive

  1. 1.Augusta, GA$6,200
  2. 2.El Paso, TX$6,200
  3. 3.Rochester, NY$6,600
  4. 4.Tucson, AZ$6,600
  5. 5.Columbus, OH$6,700

All 43 cities

New York

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
New York, NY
Avg: $11,200 · $4,000–$30,800
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Brooklyn, NY
Avg: $10,600 · $3,800–$29,400
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Buffalo, NY
Avg: $6,900 · $2,500–$19,000
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Rochester, NY
Avg: $6,600 · $2,400–$18,200

California

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Los Angeles, CA
Avg: $10,300 · $3,700–$28,400
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
San Diego, CA
Avg: $9,600 · $3,500–$26,500
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
San Jose, CA
Avg: $11,400 · $4,100–$31,500
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
San Francisco, CA
Avg: $11,800 · $4,300–$32,700
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Sacramento, CA
Avg: $8,800 · $3,200–$24,400

Illinois

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Chicago, IL
Avg: $8,900 · $3,200–$24,600
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Aurora, IL
Avg: $8,100 · $2,900–$22,400
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Naperville, IL
Avg: $9,200 · $3,300–$25,300

Texas

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Houston, TX
Avg: $7,300 · $2,600–$20,100
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
San Antonio, TX
Avg: $6,800 · $2,400–$18,600
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Dallas, TX
Avg: $7,600 · $2,700–$20,900
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Austin, TX
Avg: $8,200 · $2,900–$22,600
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Fort Worth, TX
Avg: $7,400 · $2,600–$20,300
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
El Paso, TX
Avg: $6,200 · $2,200–$17,000

Arizona

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Phoenix, AZ
Avg: $7,100 · $2,600–$19,700
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Tucson, AZ
Avg: $6,600 · $2,400–$18,200
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Scottsdale, AZ
Avg: $8,400 · $3,000–$23,200

Pennsylvania

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Philadelphia, PA
Avg: $8,600 · $3,100–$23,600

Florida

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Jacksonville, FL
Avg: $7,100 · $2,600–$19,700
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Miami, FL
Avg: $8,400 · $3,000–$23,200
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Tampa, FL
Avg: $7,900 · $2,800–$21,700
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Orlando, FL
Avg: $7,600 · $2,800–$21,100
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Avg: $8,600 · $3,100–$23,800

Ohio

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Columbus, OH
Avg: $6,700 · $2,400–$18,400

North Carolina

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Charlotte, NC
Avg: $7,000 · $2,500–$19,300

Washington

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Seattle, WA
Avg: $9,200 · $3,300–$25,300

Colorado

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Denver, CO
Avg: $8,100 · $2,900–$22,400
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Colorado Springs, CO
Avg: $7,500 · $2,700–$20,700
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Aurora, CO
Avg: $7,800 · $2,800–$21,500

Massachusetts

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Boston, MA
Avg: $10,100 · $3,600–$27,900

Tennessee

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Nashville, TN
Avg: $7,200 · $2,600–$19,900

Oregon

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Portland, OR
Avg: $8,600 · $3,100–$23,800

Michigan

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Detroit, MI
Avg: $6,800 · $2,500–$18,800

Georgia

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Atlanta, GA
Avg: $7,400 · $2,600–$20,300
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Augusta, GA
Avg: $6,200 · $2,200–$17,000
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Savannah, GA
Avg: $6,800 · $2,400–$18,600
Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Marietta, GA
Avg: $7,600 · $2,800–$21,100

Minnesota

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Minneapolis, MN
Avg: $7,900 · $2,800–$21,700

Virginia

Concrete septic tank being lowered into excavation
Richmond, VA
Avg: $7,000 · $2,500–$19,500

Frequently asked questions

Septic system installation averages $7,500 nationally in 2026 for a 3-bedroom home with a conventional gravity system. Aerobic systems and engineered drain fields run $10,000-$18,000. Mound systems (for poor-percolation soils) reach $15,000-$25,000. Tank-only replacement is $3,000-$6,000.