Heating / HVAC replacement cost across 4 US cities
Heating and cooling replacement covers everything from swapping a like-for-like furnace to converting a home to a heat pump. Those are different projects at different price points, which is why the published range is broad.
What the permit filings show
Based on 486 residential building-permit filings. The median heating / hvac replacement valuation runs from $11,000 in Los Angeles to $24,250 in Austin, about 2.2× the cheapest city. Within a city the spread matters too: the middle half of San Francisco filings spans 358% of its median, versus 165% in Chicago.
CityTypical range (P25–P75)MedianFilings
Los Angeles$5,000 – $40,000$11,00080
Chicago$5,690 – $25,500$12,00092
San Francisco$7,000 – $50,000$12,000183
Austin$10,400 – $59,000$24,250131
Filings are declared valuations from each city's open permit dataset, limited to residential records classified as heating / hvac replacement work and valued between $1,000 and $2,000,000. A city is listed only when at least 30 filings qualify. Full methodology. Data refreshed September 2026.
Like-for-like versus system change
A straight replacement reuses existing ducts, gas lines and electrical supply. A system change, such as adding cooling to a heat-only home or moving to a heat pump, may require new ductwork, electrical upgrades and controls. If two quotes are far apart, check whether they describe the same scope.
Sizing matters as much as brand. An oversized system cycles on and off and wears faster; an undersized one never keeps up. A proper load calculation is the basis for a good quote.
Installation quality
Industry surveys and manufacturers consistently point to installation quality as a major driver of real-world efficiency and lifespan. That is why the cheapest quote is not always the lowest-cost option over the equipment life.
Questions to ask
Ask for the equipment model numbers, the load calculation, what is included for controls and commissioning, and what warranty applies to parts and labor. Compare expected running costs, not only installation price.
Use your quote to test the range
What this project can cover
HVAC work can include the new equipment, connections, controls, commissioning, and modifications to ducts, radiators, or electrical supply.
What may sit outside it
A like-for-like replacement is not comparable with a heat-pump conversion, new ductwork, insulation, or whole-home efficiency work.
Checks before you accept a quote
Require a load calculation and equipment model number.
Check whether permits, refrigerant lines, controls, and startup are included.
Compare warranty terms and expected running costs, not only installation price.