Answer: - Last year, I had to have to RotoRooter man over to unclog the basement drain out to the street. He must have worked over 20 minutes with his power rooter and it cost me $85.00 FYI, I live in the Midwest. -I think it depends on the part of the country, if the guy is a licensed plumber or just a drain cleaner. How far he had to travel is considered since his time starts when he leaves the shop or the last job he was on.. If the fellow you called was a plumber then what he charged was about right, especially if he was from a Union shop.. (I was a union plumber, 45 years ago.. Highest pay of all union trades.) If he was an independant, self employed, then he might have been cheaper, but then that all depends on how much business he has in your area.. If he was just a drain cleaner, he may have a franchise that sucks away a chunk of his fee.. The truck and equipment maybe on lease from a franchise outfit.. (Like those carpet cleaners).. Since I learned as an apprentice, how to deal with most of these problems, I went for 40 + years without ever calling a plumber or drain cleaner.. However, about 10 years ago, I got fed up with my (ex)wife dumping greasy stuff down the drain. I think she assumed she had her own personal drain cleaner, so what's the big deal.. I refused to clean it again, Called Roto-Rooter.. Cost about $100 but I had him root out all the drain lines under my house slab, all the way to the street.. Trust me I got my/her moneys worth.. There was no way, even with rented equipment that I could have rooted out all those drains for $100. So the bottom line, to the OP.. It costs what you are willing to pay and if you aren't, then get out out tools and do it yourself..