California\u2019s largest hikes in home-repair costs last year were found in communities near the horrific January 2025 wildfires across Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
My trusty spreadsheet<\/a> reviewed a repair cost index from Verisk<\/a> that tracks 12-month swings in labor and material expenses dating to 2013 for 34 California markets.<\/p>\n In Los Angeles, research shows repairs became 8.4% more expensive in 2025, the largest jump in the state. That followed 2024\u2019s 5.9% increase (also No. 1) and the 5%\u00a0average pace of increases in 2013 through 2024 (No. 5).<\/p>\n San Fernando costs rose 6.7% in 2025 (No. 2 statewide) vs. 2024\u2019s 3.3% increase, the previous year (No. 11), and 4.7% average gain 2013-24 (No. 15).<\/p>\n Simi Valley costs were up 4.2% last year (No. 4 statewide) vs. a 3% increase the previous year (No. 18) and 4.6% average gain 2013-24 (No. 18).<\/p>\n Surging repair costs don\u2019t just hit victims of wildfires that destroyed roughly 12,000 structures in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.<\/p>\n The increased demand for workers and supplies needed for wildfire reconstruction boosted construction costs for any local property owner looking to fix, expand or upgrade a home. Plus, costlier repairs put upward pressure on home insurance rates.<\/p>\n Consider that the median increase across the 12 Southern California markets in the study was 4% last year, up from 2.9% in 2024 but off from a 4.5% average pace of increases in 2013 through 2024.<\/p>\n In the 22 markets outside Southern California, the median repair costs rose by only 2.2% last year, down from a 3% gain in 2024 and an average annual increase of 4.7% in 2013-24.<\/p>\n Other Southern California markets among the state\u2019s biggest jumps were:<\/p>\n \u2013 No. 5 Santa Barbara: Up 4.1% last year vs. 2.9% increase in 2024 (No. 20) and 4.5% average gain in 2013-24 (No. 26).<\/p>\n \u2013 No. 6 Ventura: Up 4.1% last year vs. 2024\u2019s 2.5% increase (No. 31) and 5% 2013-24 gain (No. 4).<\/p>\n \u2013 No. 7 Victorville: Up 4.1% last year vs. 2024\u2019s 2.6% increase (No. 29) and 4.2% 2013-24 gain (No. 34).<\/p>\n \u2013 No. 8 San Bernardino: Up 3.9% last year vs. 2024\u2019s 2.7% increase (No. 26) and 4.4% 2013-24 gain (No. 30).<\/p>\n \u2013 No. 10 Orange County: Up 3.7% last year (No. 10) vs. 2024\u2019s 2.9% increase\u00a0 (No. 21) and 4.6% 2013-24 gain (No. 21).<\/p>\n \u2013 No. 11 San Diego: Up 3.6% last year (No. 11) vs. 2024\u2019s 3% increase (No. 17) and 5% 2013-24 gain (No. 6).<\/p>\n