CostByZip.com

How We Source Our Data

CostByZip provides fair pricing data for home improvement projects, sourced from government statistics and publicly available market data. Here is exactly how it works.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Our labor cost data comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys over 1.1 million establishments across the United States. For each trade, we use the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code to pull metro-level wage data including median, 25th percentile, and 75th percentile hourly rates.

This data is refreshed annually with each OEWS release. Our current data version is 2026-Q1.

Regional Cost Factors

Labor costs alone do not tell the full story. We apply regional cost-of-living adjustments derived from the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) by metropolitan area. This accounts for the fact that a dollar of labor in San Francisco buys less than a dollar of labor in Tulsa.

Material Cost Baselines

Material pricing is compiled from the BLS Producer Price Index (PPI), manufacturer published retail pricing, and industry publications. We track low, mid, and high price points for every major material in each trade to provide realistic ranges rather than single-point estimates.

Material costs are refreshed quarterly to capture seasonal fluctuations and supply chain changes.

What Is a Bid Kit?

A Bid Kit is a 15-20 page PDF report customized to your city, ZIP code, and project type. It includes:

  1. Fair Price Verdict — Low, typical, and high cost ranges with red-flag thresholds
  2. Scope of Work Template — A print-ready page to hand every contractor
  3. Bid Comparison Scorecard — Fill-in worksheet to compare quotes side by side
  4. 6 Insider Warnings — Trade-specific gotchas most homeowners miss
  5. Detailed Cost Breakdown — Line-item decomposition of materials, labor, permits
  6. Permit Checklist — Whether you need one, what it costs, who pulls it
  7. Seasonal Pricing Guide — Best months for pricing in your region
  8. RealPros.ai Handoff — Option to send your scope to pre-vetted contractors

How Reports Are Generated

Each Bid Kit is generated on demand using a combination of pre-computed statistical data and AI-powered narrative writing. The numbers come from our database. The AI writes the explanatory text around those numbers. The AI never invents or estimates cost figures — every number in your report traces back to BLS or PPI data.

About Menutize LLC

CostByZip is a product of Menutize LLC. We also operate RealPros.ai, a platform for booking pre-vetted home service contractors. Together, these products help homeowners research fair pricing, understand what they should be paying, and connect with quality professionals.

Questions? Reach us at support@costbyzip.com.

This document is a market research aggregate based on publicly available statistical data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other government sources. It is not a binding estimate, quote, professional appraisal, or licensed contractor assessment. Actual project costs vary based on site conditions, contractor pricing, material selection, and other factors. Consult licensed professionals for project-specific quotes.