When you’re thinking about adding central air or replacing an existing system, of course you want to get an idea of what the cost looks like.
If central air was a one-size-fits-all commodity, it would be simple to provide the exact cost to install central air, or even to give a price range for AC installation in NYC, for example. Some companies do publish this type of information, but those numbers are so general as to be pretty useless. The range is so wide that it’s not helpful, and can’t possibly take into account your specific situation.