How much does it cost to fix a wet spot in a ceiling?

Most ceiling drywall repairs run a few hundred dollars for a paint touch-up to a few thousand if framing is wet. Surface stain, dry drywall, paint intact: stain-blocking primer (Kilz or Zinsser) and matching paint covers it. Bigger jobs need cut-out, insulation check, new half-inch drywall, tape, mud, texture match, and paint. Above that band, you're paying for joist or truss repair plus a roofer to fix the source. On the roof side in the Myrtle Beach area, a diagnostic service visit runs around $125 and your average leak repair lands near $1,500. Always get a moisture-meter reading before paint goes back up. Drying without that step is how mold starts behind a fresh coat.