CostInMyCity

San Antonio, TX / HVAC replacement

HVAC replacement cost in San Antonio, TX

Average $7,500; common $5,000–$12,500; up to $22,000 with new ductwork. Central AC $3,900–$7,900; gas furnace $3,800–$10,000; heat pump $4,200–$7,600; labor about $1,500.

Labor for HVAC replacement in San Antonio, TX is indexed to the BLS construction-and-extraction occupations mean hourly wage for San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX of $25.94 (May 2025), applied to the 30% labor share.

San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD) is the issuing office. The typical permit fee recorded from City of San Antonio DSD FY2026 Development Fee Schedule (Rev. October 2025), p. 16 Heating and Air Conditioning (Mechanical) Inspection Fees — Commercial and Existing Residential, retrieved 2026-09-01, is $66. Fee model: tiered.

The national typical for this job is $7,500. Materials stay at the national figure while labor is wage-indexed for San Antonio, TX.

Typical all-in

$7,176

Job cost plus the recorded local permit fee at this size.

Low
$4,796
Typical
$7,176
High
$20,928

Breakdown

Labor (allocated)$2,133
Materials (allocated)$4,977
Job subtotal$7,110
Permit$66
All-in typical$7,176

Labor is adjusted for construction wages in this metro. Materials stay at the national figure. This is an estimate, not a contractor quote.

Permit fee

Fee model
tiered
Typical fee
$66
Range
$56 – $72
Retrieved
2026-09-01
  • Basic Heating and Air Conditioning (Mechanical) Permit — $50Included. Online processing $10 is free.
  • Gas furnace (per item) — $10Typical/high. Included.
  • Condensing unit / heat pump / air handler (per item) — $6Typical one device. High adds a second $6.25.

Basic mechanical permit $50.00 (online processing free). Gas furnace $9.60 each. Condensing unit/heat pump/air handler/replacement device $6.25 each. Low = 1 replacement device $50+$6.25=$56.25. Typical 3-ton like-for-like furnace+AC $50+$9.60+$6.25=$65.85. High furnace + condensing unit + air handler $50+$9.60+$6.25+$6.25=$72.10.

Like-for-like change-out uses the existing-residential mechanical basic + per-device lines, not the §10-38 valuation table and not the $77 new-system line. Online processing fee is free. Separate electrical permit if a new circuit.

City of San Antonio DSD FY2026 Development Fee Schedule (Rev. October 2025), p. 16 Heating and Air Conditioning (Mechanical) Inspection Fees — Commercial and Existing Residential

Citations

  1. How Much Does HVAC Replacement Cost? [2026 Data] Retrieved Aug 12, 2026. Average $7,500; $5,000–$22,000; labor about $1,500; national permit range $50–$500 (not city-specific).
  2. City of San Antonio DSD FY2026 Development Fee Schedule (Rev. October 2025), p. 16 Heating and Air Conditioning (Mechanical) Inspection Fees — Commercial and Existing Residential Retrieved Aug 31, 2026. Like-for-like change-out uses the existing-residential mechanical basic + per-device lines, not the §10-38 valuation table and not the $77 new-system line. Online processing fee is free. Separate electrical permit if a new circuit.
  3. BLS OEWS construction wages — San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to laborShare only. Not a city-specific bid survey.

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