Per-foot benchmarks help compare options: $0. 20/ft for cable, $8–$40/ft for trenching, and $60–$180 per labor hour depending on skill level and fusion requirements. These figures reflect typical U S prices before any permit waivers or incentives. Distance and path. Homeowners and businesses typically pay for fiber optic cable installation based on distance, conduit needs, and labor. These fibers are thin strands, often as small as a human hair, that transmit data as pulses of light.