Renovating in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge prices at the top of the Massachusetts market. Labor runs at or above Boston rates, lots are tight, and a large share of the housing sits inside historic or neighborhood-conservation districts that add review time to exterior work.
Typical Cambridge project costs
| Project | Low | Likely | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel150 sq ft, mid-range finish | $68k | $92k | $123k |
| Bathroom remodel60 sq ft, mid-range finish | $34k | $47k | $64k |
| Roof replacement1,600 sq ft, mid-range finish | $111k | $185k | $296k |
| Home addition400 sq ft, mid-range finish | $181k | $246k | $329k |
| Basement finishing600 sq ft, mid-range finish | $54k | $84k | $123k |
| Whole-home renovation1,600 sq ft, mid-range finish | $342k | $473k | $657k |
| Deck building300 sq ft, mid-range finish | $22k | $37k | $59k |
| Siding replacement1,800 sq ft, mid-range finish | $111k | $185k | $296k |
| Garage addition480 sq ft, mid-range finish | $217k | $296k | $394k |
| Sunroom addition200 sq ft, mid-range finish | $90k | $123k | $164k |
Massachusetts regional index with a 1.14× Cambridge metro factor, 10% contingency included. Budgeting estimates, not quotes.
Estimated range — based on BLS OEWS national average wages and BLS PPI material indexes applied to Our Haus baseline unit costs, as of June 2026. Estimates are shown as a range and help set expectations. They are not a quote, a verified price, or an appraisal of what a contractor will charge.
Housing stock and what it means for cost
Triple-deckers and two-families dominate most of the city, with Victorian singles in West Cambridge and mid-rise conversions near the squares. Expect plaster walls, old steam and hydronic heat, undersized electrical panels, and — in pre-1978 housing — lead-safe work practices on any renovation.
Neighborhoods: Harvard Square, Kendall Square, Porter Square, West Cambridge, Cambridgeport, North Cambridge.
Permits and contract rules
Authority: City of Cambridge Inspectional Services Department
Building, electrical, plumbing, and gas permits are separate and pulled by licensed trades where applicable. Exterior changes in historic districts require Historic Commission review before the permit issues, and demolition of any kind faces an extra review step for buildings over fifty years old.
Same Massachusetts rules as Boston: written contract over $1,000, Home Improvement Contractor registration, one-third deposit cap, and required start and completion dates in the contract.
Season and scheduling
Exterior work runs April through November. The contractor pool overlaps Boston entirely, so the spring booking rush is the same — interior work scheduled for January and February prices and starts best.
Check a Cambridge quote