2026 Cost Guide
How much does Network & Wi-Fi cost in Los Angeles?
Estimates last reviewed Jul 2026.
Cost snapshot — Los Angeles, 2026
| Project | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi survey + heat map (single site) | $2,500–$6,000 |
| Office Wi-Fi refresh (5,000 sq ft) | $8,000–$22,000 |
| Enterprise firewall (edge appliance + install) | $3,500–$18,000 |
| SD-WAN rollout per site | $6,000–$18,000 + circuit costs |
| Retail multi-site network refresh | $150,000–$1M+ |
Frequently asked
How many access points do we need?
Rule of thumb: one AP per 25 users in office space, one per 20 seats in classrooms, and one per 15 users in high-density spaces (conference rooms, event floors). A site survey gives you the actual count.
Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti, or Fortinet?
Meraki is dominant in mid-market LA offices — cloud-managed, reliable, and easy to support. Ubiquiti is popular for cost-conscious deployments. Fortinet is strong when you also need firewall + Wi-Fi from one vendor.
What's SD-WAN?
Software-defined WAN — an intelligent overlay that uses multiple internet circuits (fiber, cable, LTE) and routes traffic based on application performance. Materially reduces cost and improves reliability for multi-site operations.
Do we need a separate guest network?
Yes — always segment guest Wi-Fi from your production network with its own VLAN and internet-only routing. Some industries (retail, hospitality) also require captive portals and terms of service.
How often should we refresh network hardware?
Switches: 7–10 years. Access points: 5–7 years (Wi-Fi standards move faster). Firewalls: 5–7 years or when your subscription tier maxes out.
Methodology, briefly
These figures are editorial estimates: typical ranges assembled from published market rates and national benchmark data, adjusted for the Los Angeles market. They are a starting point for budgeting, not quotes — actual pricing varies with headcount, compliance scope, and asset counts. We are collecting real pricing data from LA providers and will refine these ranges as it accumulates. See our full methodology.