Every few months, someone asks me some version of the same question: “What’s this actually going to cost me?” It’s usually right after they’ve gotten three wildly different quotes for the same kitchen, or after a contractor has thrown around a number that sounds either suspiciously low or eye-wateringly high. Bangalore’s renovation market is fragmented enough that there’s no single “going rate” for anything — costs shift by neighbourhood, by the specific vendor you land on, and by how much you’re willing to negotiate. What I can offer, after years of styling homes and working alongside contractors, painters, and modular furniture dealers across the city, is a realistic sense of where the ranges actually sit.
A full renovation of a 2BHK apartment in Bangalore typically costs between ₹4 lakh and ₹12 lakh depending on scope and finish level, with kitchens and bathrooms accounting for the largest share of that budget. Cosmetic touch-ups (painting, minor fixture swaps) can come in well under ₹1.5 lakh, while structural changes or premium finishes push costs past ₹15 lakh for larger homes.
Key Takeaways
- A 2BHK renovation in Bangalore generally runs ₹4–12 lakh; 3BHKs run ₹7–14 lakh or more.
- Kitchens are the single biggest line item, ranging from ₹1.5 lakh (budget modular) to ₹10 lakh+ (premium, full appliance integration).
- Modular furniture typically costs 20–30% more than carpenter-built equivalents, but comes with better finish consistency and warranty.
- Painting a 2BHK apartment usually costs ₹45,000–90,000 depending on whether you go labor-only, contractor-supplied, or a branded painting service.
- Where you live in the city matters — newer developments in areas like Whitefield or Sarjapur often see slightly higher vendor quotes than older, more established neighbourhoods.
- Get at least three quotes and ask each vendor to break down material cost versus labor cost separately; bundled quotes make it hard to compare fairly.
Kitchen renovation costs in Bangalore
Kitchens eat the biggest chunk of most renovation budgets, and the range is wide because so much depends on finish and hardware. For a standard mid-size Bangalore kitchen (roughly 8×10 feet):
- Budget (₹1.5–2.5 lakh): Laminate-finish modular units, basic hardware, no soft-close fittings.
- Mid-range (₹3–5 lakh): Acrylic or PU finish, soft-close drawers, better quality hardware, some appliance integration.
- Premium (₹6–10 lakh+): Imported hardware, stone or quartz countertops, full appliance integration, custom storage solutions.
One thing I’ve noticed clients underestimate: the countertop material alone can shift a quote by ₹40,000–80,000 depending on whether you choose granite, quartz, or an imported stone.
Bathroom renovation costs in Bangalore
Bathroom work is deceptively expensive per square foot because of the plumbing and waterproofing involved, not just tiling and fixtures.
- Budget (₹80,000–1.5 lakh): Standard ceramic tiles, basic sanitaryware, minimal layout changes.
- Mid-range (₹1.5–3 lakh): Better tile quality, branded fittings (Jaquar, Cera-level), improved waterproofing.
- Premium (₹4–7 lakh+): Imported tiles, premium sanitaryware, layout changes requiring plumbing rework.
If your building is older, factor in an additional buffer for waterproofing — a lot of Bangalore apartments built before the mid-2010s have seepage issues that only surface once tiling starts coming off.
Painting costs in Bangalore
Painting costs vary more by who you hire than by the paint brand itself.
- Labor only (you supply materials): ₹12–18 per sq ft
- Contractor-supplied (materials + labor, standard emulsion): ₹18–25 per sq ft
- Branded painting service (Asian Paints Safe Painting, Berger Home Shield, etc.): ₹25–40 per sq ft
For a typical 2BHK with around 2,800–3,200 sq ft of paintable wall area, that works out to roughly ₹45,000 on the low end and ₹90,000–1.1 lakh if you go with a full-service branded package that includes minor repairs and cleanup.
Modular vs. carpenter-built furniture: the cost gap
This is one of the most common cost questions I get, so it deserves its own breakdown (I’ll cover it in more depth in a dedicated piece). In short:
- Modular wardrobes: ₹1,100–1,800 per sq ft, with 15–20 day turnaround and factory-finish consistency.
- Carpenter-built wardrobes: ₹900–1,400 per sq ft, often cheaper upfront but with longer timelines and more variation in finish quality depending on the individual carpenter’s skill.
Modular tends to win on speed and consistency; carpenter-built tends to win on customization for oddly shaped spaces, which is common in older Bangalore apartments.
Flooring costs in Bangalore
- Vitrified tiles: ₹65–120 per sq ft, installed
- Vinyl plank flooring: ₹60–100 per sq ft
- Laminate wood flooring: ₹90–180 per sq ft
- Italian marble: ₹250–500+ per sq ft
Vitrified tiles remain the most common choice across the city simply because they hold up well against Bangalore’s humidity swings between monsoon and summer.
Electrical and plumbing rework costs
These are easy to underestimate because they’re invisible once the renovation is done.
- Full rewiring for a 2BHK: ₹40,000–70,000
- Plumbing rework per bathroom: ₹15,000–30,000
If your apartment is more than 10–12 years old, I’d budget for at least partial rewiring — a lot of older wiring wasn’t sized for the number of appliances a typical household runs today.
What actually swings your renovation budget
A few factors move the needle more than people expect:
- Location within the city: Newer developments often carry slightly higher vendor quotes than older, established neighbourhoods, partly due to demand and partly due to easier access logistics.
- Material grade: The gap between a budget and premium material choice is usually 2–3x, even for the same category (tiles, hardware, countertops).
- Contractor vs. independent designer: Independent designers typically charge a 10–15% design fee on top of material and labor, but often negotiate better vendor rates that offset part of that fee.
- Timing: Renovations booked right before monsoon season can face delays that add cost through extended labor charges.
Cost comparison at a glance
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | ₹1.5–2.5 lakh | ₹3–5 lakh | ₹6–10 lakh+ |
| Bathroom | ₹80,000–1.5 lakh | ₹1.5–3 lakh | ₹4–7 lakh+ |
| Painting (2BHK) | ₹45,000 | ₹65,000 | ₹90,000–1.1 lakh |
| Flooring (per sq ft) | ₹60–65 | ₹90–120 | ₹250–500+ |
| Wardrobes (per sq ft) | ₹900–1,100 | ₹1,200–1,500 | ₹1,600–1,800 |
FAQ
What is the average cost to renovate a 2BHK in Bangalore? Most full 2BHK renovations fall between ₹4 lakh and ₹12 lakh, depending on how much of the apartment you’re touching and the finish level you choose.
Is it cheaper to renovate or move to a new apartment? It depends on the scale of work needed. Cosmetic renovations (painting, minor fixture updates) are almost always cheaper than moving. Structural renovations involving multiple rooms can approach moving costs once you factor in deposits and brokerage for a new place.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Bangalore? Budget modular kitchens start around ₹1.5 lakh, while premium kitchens with imported hardware and stone countertops can exceed ₹10 lakh.
Is modular furniture more expensive than carpenter-built? Yes, typically by 20–30%, though the gap narrows for simpler designs and widens for highly customized layouts.
How much does it cost to paint a 2BHK apartment in Bangalore? Expect ₹45,000 on the low end for labor-only work, up to ₹90,000–1.1 lakh for a full-service branded painting package.
How long does a typical home renovation take in Bangalore? Cosmetic work (painting, minor fixes) usually takes 1–2 weeks. A full kitchen or bathroom renovation typically takes 3–6 weeks, and a full-apartment renovation can run 2–4 months depending on scope.
Rohini writes about home styling, beauty, fashion, food, and travel from Bangalore, India — drawing on her background in interior styling and years of testing what actually works in real homes and everyday routines. Every recommendation here comes from something she’s personally tried, not aggregated advice.
