Embarking on a home remodel in San Diego is an exciting step toward creating your dream living space or rent-producing unit. However, before you start picking out new countertops and paint colors, one of the most pressing questions is: “How much is this all going to cost?” The answer, as many San Diego homeowners discover, is not simple. The cost of a home remodel can vary dramatically based on the scope of work, material choices, and local labor rates.
At Price Builders, we specialize in providing transparent and realistic estimates for home remodels throughout San Diego County. This guide will walk you through the average costs for common projects, break down the factors that influence your final bill, and provide essential tips to help you budget effectively for your renovation.
Understanding the San Diego Price Difference
It’s no secret that the cost of living in San Diego is higher than the national average, and this is reflected in the construction industry. Labor, materials, and permit fees all tend to be more expensive here. This is why a $20,000 kitchen refresh in the Midwest might cost $40,000 or more in our local market. When budgeting, it’s crucial to use numbers that are specific to your location.
Cost Breakdown by Project Type
Here is a realistic look at what you can expect to pay for the most popular home renovation projects in San Diego. Keep in mind that these are general ranges, and your final cost will depend on the specifics of your project.
Kitchen Remodel Costs
A kitchen is often the heart of the home and the most common remodeling project. Costs are heavily influenced by the extent of the changes.
- Minor Kitchen Remodel ($25,000 – $45,000): This typically involves cosmetic updates. Think refacing existing cabinets, replacing countertops with a mid-range material (like quartz or granite), installing new appliances and a new sink, painting, and updating lighting and fixtures (faucet and cabinet pulls). The layout remains the same, which keeps costs down.
- Mid-Range Kitchen Remodel ($35,000 – $75,000): This category includes a more significant overhaul. This could involve new custom cabinetry, higher-end countertops, new flooring, and a more substantial appliance package. It may also include minor structural changes, like moving a non-load-bearing wall.
- Major/Luxury Kitchen Remodel ($80,000+): For this level of renovation, you’re looking at a complete gut and rebuild. This includes a full layout redesign, custom-built, high-end cabinets, luxury countertops, professional-grade appliances, and extensive electrical and plumbing work.
Bathroom Remodel Costs
Bathrooms offer a great return on investment, and costs can range widely based on size and fixture choices.
- Small Bathroom Remodel ($15,000 – $30,000): For a small guest or powder room, this might include a new vanity, toilet, floor, and shower/tub combo. You’ll usually want replace some of the plumbing in the wall. A new sink, faucet, and shower fixtures have a big impact on the experience in the bathroom. It’s an efficient way to modernize a small space.
- Standard Primary Bathroom Remodel ($30,000 – $65,000): This level of project usually involves new tile, a custom shower with a frameless glass door, a double vanity, and updated fixtures.
- Luxury Primary Bathroom Remodel ($70,000+): At this price point, you can create a spa-like retreat. This could include a full-size walk-in shower with multiple showerheads, a free-standing tub, heated floors, and higher-end materials like marble or exotic stone.
Home Additions & ADU Costs
Building a new living space is a significant investment. Costs per square foot can vary, but these projects also have significant design and permitting costs.
- Bedroom/Bathroom Addition ($75,000 – $150,000+): The cost of adding a new room varies greatly depending on its size and complexity. The price includes everything from foundation and framing to insulation, wiring, and finishing. Many homeowners choose to add a second-story addition on top of their existing single-story home, or to expand their existing second-story over a single-story portion of their home. These kinds of projects require structural expertise and are Price Builders’ specialty.
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) (also called a Granny Flat or casita) ($150,000 – $450,000+): ADUs have become incredibly popular in San Diego. The lack of affordable housing combined with a dense population creates a sweet spot for ADUs in our market. Building an additional dwelling unit on property you already own is one of the highest-ROI investments any homeowner can make, often far outperforming alternative options, including buying new property or investing the same money in the market. Price Builders can help you determine the ROI you should expect from an ADU build and tailor your plans to maximize your lot’s potential. The final cost of an ADU depends on whether you’re building a new unit from the ground up or creating an attached ADU, typically called a Junior ADU (JADU). New-build ADUs often range from $275 to $500+ per square foot, and the total cost includes everything from architectural drawings to final landscaping. In most jurisdictions in San Diego County, ADUs are limited to 1,200 square feet and JADUs are limited to 500 square feet.
Top 5 Factors That Influence Your Remodel Cost
Understanding what drives the price is the first step toward a successful budget.
1. Scope of Work: The biggest factor is the scope. Are you simply replacing fixtures or are you moving walls, relocating plumbing, and reconfiguring electrical wiring? The more structural changes, the higher the cost. For new structures, the need for grading and retaining walls is the largest cost multiplier. The location of utilities is also a key influence in cost.
2. Material Selection: This can be a budget’s best friend or its worst enemy. Choosing a standard-grade laminate countertop is far more affordable than a custom-cut slab of high-end quartz. Similarly, custom cabinetry is an investment compared to semi-custom or big box store options. However, higher-quality materials generally last longer and require less maintenance, so you should weigh lifetime cost vs. immediate savings when making material choices.
3. Labor Costs: In a high-demand market like San Diego, skilled labor comes at a premium. The General Contractor, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and other tradespeople all charge rates that reflect the local economy. Working with a licensed contractor who uses only licensed subcontractors is more expensive than working with a handyman or unlicensed entity, but doing so will protect you from safety and financial hazards due to poor or not-to-code installations, ghosting, and liability on your property.
4. Permits and Fees: San Diego County has 18 incorporated cities (e.g., San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas) and large portions of unincorporated land that fall under the jurisdiction of San Diego County administration. For your project, your builder or architect will submit a permit application to the building department of the jurisdiction in which your property is located. The California Building Code (CBC) is the governing code authority for most projects homeowners undertake, and some jurisdictions apply additional, often stricter, building codes. What type of things you can build and where you can build them is determined by your zone and the municipal or county zoning code. This is the code that establishes building height limits, occupancy types, and setbacks, among other things. Permit fees paid to your jurisdiction are an unavoidable part of any major renovation. These fees can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousand, depending on the project’s size and complexity.
5. Unforeseen Issues: A good General Contractor (GC) will identify potential issues to you up front and be clear about whether those issues, if they occur, will be covered under the contract you are signing or not. Common issues that can arise in construction include the discovery of mold, lead, or asbestos, or the uncovering of previous unpermitted or not-to-code work which will need to be remedied before continuing with the project.
How to Budget for Your San Diego Home Remodel
Building a smart budget is crucial for a stress-free project.
1. Be Realistic: Don’t rely on national averages. Do your research on costs specifically for San Diego and Southern California. AI can give you a range, but be careful on relying on AI information or estimates too much, because AI tools can often exclude major components such as permit fees, material, or specialized labor.
2. Get Detailed Bids: A professional GC will provide a comprehensive bid that includes all costs, from demolition and materials to labor and cleanup. The GC should be very specific about what is included in the proposal and what is excluded. It is common practice for GCs to exclude items such as plumbing and lighting fixtures, flooring, and paint because there is a wide variety of quality and style of those items and it is customary for the homeowner to select and provide them directly to the contractor. If you want an “all-inclusive” bid, inform your GC and they may select these items for you or include allowances for them – but also be aware this will increase the cost of the proposal so you should carefully compare all proposals that you get. Be wary of bids that are significantly lower than others, as they may not include all necessary costs.
3. Factor in a Contingency: Set aside 15% of your budget for unexpected costs. This prevents you from being blindsided by unforeseen issues. Even the best contractors cannot see underground or through walls.
4. Prioritize Your “Wants vs. Needs”: Create a list of must-haves for your project and a separate list of features you would like to have if the budget allows. This helps you make smart decisions if you need to cut costs later on.
Ready to Get Started?
A home remodel, addition, or ADU is a major investment, but with the right planning and a reliable GC, you can transform your home without financial stress. At Price Builders, we pride ourselves on transparent communication and detailed, accurate budgeting.
We invite you to contact us for a personalized consultation. We will discuss your vision, provide a detailed and realistic estimate, and help you create a plan that fits your budget and lifestyle.
Contact Price Builders today for a free consultation and let’s start building your dream home in San Diego.
