Water Heater Installation Cost by City (2026)

Water heater replacement including removal, new unit, connections, 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
$2,000
Budget
$800
High-end
$5,000
43 cities covered
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
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Cost breakdown — national average water heater installation

Water heater unit
50%
$1,000
Labor
25%
$500
Venting & gas line
10%
$200
Water connections
$200
Permits
$100
Disposal
$100

Most and least expensive cities

Most expensive

  1. 1.San Francisco, CA$3,200
  2. 2.New York, NY$3,000
  3. 3.San Jose, CA$3,000
  4. 4.Brooklyn, NY$2,800
  5. 5.Los Angeles, CA$2,700

Least expensive

  1. 1.Augusta, GA$1,600
  2. 2.El Paso, TX$1,600
  3. 3.Savannah, GA$1,800
  4. 4.Rochester, NY$1,800
  5. 5.Buffalo, NY$1,800

All 43 cities

New York

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
New York, NY
Avg: $3,000 · $1,100–$8,600
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Brooklyn, NY
Avg: $2,800 · $1,000–$8,200
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Buffalo, NY
Avg: $1,800 · $700–$5,300
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Rochester, NY
Avg: $1,800 · $600–$5,100

California

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Los Angeles, CA
Avg: $2,700 · $1,000–$7,900
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
San Diego, CA
Avg: $2,600 · $900–$7,400
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
San Jose, CA
Avg: $3,000 · $1,100–$8,700
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
San Francisco, CA
Avg: $3,200 · $1,100–$9,100
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Sacramento, CA
Avg: $2,400 · $800–$6,800

Illinois

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Chicago, IL
Avg: $2,400 · $900–$6,800
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Aurora, IL
Avg: $2,200 · $800–$6,200
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Naperville, IL
Avg: $2,400 · $900–$7,000

Texas

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Houston, TX
Avg: $1,900 · $700–$5,600
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
San Antonio, TX
Avg: $1,800 · $600–$5,200
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Dallas, TX
Avg: $2,000 · $700–$5,800
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Austin, TX
Avg: $2,200 · $800–$6,300
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Fort Worth, TX
Avg: $2,000 · $700–$5,600
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
El Paso, TX
Avg: $1,600 · $600–$4,700

Arizona

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Phoenix, AZ
Avg: $1,900 · $700–$5,500
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Tucson, AZ
Avg: $1,800 · $600–$5,100
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Scottsdale, AZ
Avg: $2,200 · $800–$6,400

Pennsylvania

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Philadelphia, PA
Avg: $2,300 · $800–$6,600

Florida

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Jacksonville, FL
Avg: $1,900 · $700–$5,500
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Miami, FL
Avg: $2,200 · $800–$6,400
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Tampa, FL
Avg: $2,100 · $800–$6,000
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Orlando, FL
Avg: $2,000 · $700–$5,900
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Avg: $2,300 · $800–$6,600

Ohio

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Columbus, OH
Avg: $1,800 · $600–$5,100

North Carolina

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Charlotte, NC
Avg: $1,900 · $700–$5,300

Washington

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Seattle, WA
Avg: $2,400 · $900–$7,000

Colorado

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Denver, CO
Avg: $2,200 · $800–$6,200
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Colorado Springs, CO
Avg: $2,000 · $700–$5,800
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Aurora, CO
Avg: $2,100 · $700–$6,000

Massachusetts

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Boston, MA
Avg: $2,700 · $1,000–$7,800

Tennessee

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Nashville, TN
Avg: $1,900 · $700–$5,500

Oregon

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Portland, OR
Avg: $2,300 · $800–$6,600

Michigan

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Detroit, MI
Avg: $1,800 · $700–$5,200

Georgia

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Atlanta, GA
Avg: $2,000 · $700–$5,600
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Augusta, GA
Avg: $1,600 · $600–$4,700
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Savannah, GA
Avg: $1,800 · $600–$5,200
Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Marietta, GA
Avg: $2,000 · $700–$5,900

Minnesota

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Minneapolis, MN
Avg: $2,100 · $800–$6,000

Virginia

Side-by-side old tank water heater versus new tankless unit
Richmond, VA
Avg: $1,900 · $700–$5,400

Frequently asked questions

Water heater replacement averages $2,000 nationally in 2026. Standard tank (gas or electric) starts near $800; tankless gas runs $2,500-$4,000; heat-pump water heaters $2,800-$4,500. Premium tankless and high-output systems reach $5,000+. Installation is 25-30% of total cost.