Asphalt driveway cost in San Francisco, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $4,100 – $10,600
- Per sq ft
- $6.75 – $17.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +41%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #3
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to pave a driveway in San Francisco, plan on $4,100 to $10,600 for 600 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $6.75 to $17.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 41% higher than the national one. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $50.26 an hour in the San Francisco area, 96% above the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in San Francisco, CA, standard level
$6,050 to $8,650
About $9.90 to $14 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $3,650 |
| Labor | $3,150 | $4,800 |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $180 |
| Total | $6,050 | $8,650 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in San Francisco, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,150 | $3,200 | $4,300 | 44% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $4,000 | $6,050 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 | $230 | 2% |
| Total | $4,100 | $7,350 | $10,600 | 100% |
Where the San Francisco price comes from
Labor is 54% of the midpoint bill here, against 41% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (40%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In San Francisco the blended ratio comes out at 1.87.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Francisco metro is 108.5 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 600 sq ft comes to $3,200, compared with $2,950 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (115.6) and land at $60 to $230.
Is San Francisco cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Francisco is the priciest of the group. Stockton is the cheapest at $6,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CAthis page | $4,100 – $10,600 | $7,350 | |
| Vallejo, CA40 miles | $3,650 – $9,250 | $6,450 | −12% |
| Napa, CA50 miles | $3,600 – $9,100 | $6,350 | −13% |
| Santa Cruz, CA55 miles | $3,550 – $8,850 | $6,200 | −16% |
| Stockton, CA55 miles | $3,550 – $8,850 | $6,200 | −16% |
| Santa Rosa, CA65 miles | $3,700 – $9,350 | $6,550 | −11% |
| California (statewide) | $3,650 – $9,100 | $6,350 | −13% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | −29% |
Across 300 US metros, San Francisco comes in at #3 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $7,650; the cheapest is Fort Smith, AR at $4,450 (midpoints, 600 sq ft). Statewide, San Francisco is 16% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,450 | −13% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $3,800 – $9,800 | $6,800 | −7% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $3,500 – $8,600 | $6,050 | −18% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $3,850 – $9,850 | $6,850 | −7% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $3,650 – $9,150 | $6,400 | −13% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $3,550 – $8,800 | $6,150 | −16% |
Cities with a workforce like San Francisco's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Francisco against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | −30% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $3,750 – $9,450 | $6,600 | −10% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $3,350 – $8,400 | $5,850 | −20% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $3,450 – $8,650 | $6,050 | −17% |
Planning more than one job in San Francisco?
Because every project leans on different trades, San Francisco's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +45% and concrete slab +26%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,850 – $12,600 | +36% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,650 – $14,700 | +45% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,800 – $6,950 | +27% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $840 – $2,950 | +41% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $6,450 | +26% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,550 – $5,250 | +30% |
Climate in San Francisco: timing your asphalt driveway job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for San Francisco Dwtn (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in San Francisco: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
San Francisco gets about 23 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (4.8 inches in December). The station averages about 3 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 47 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 62 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 50 | 1.6 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 51 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 67 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 66 | 54 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 68 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 54 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 51 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 47 | 4.8 | Workable |
Asphalt driveway: what moves the price in San Francisco
New versus overlay
Resurfacing an existing driveway runs $3-$7 per sq ft; a full new driveway runs $5-$12+ (HomeGuide). Tearing out and replacing one is higher still.
Base work
Four to eight inches of compacted aggregate under the asphalt is where cheap quotes cut corners. Base typically runs $1-$3 per sq ft.
Small jobs cost more per foot
Paving crews move a paver, roller and trucks to your address, so a 400 sq ft driveway carries more mobilization per square foot than a 1,000 sq ft one.
Optional extras in San Francisco
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to San Francisco by the average of the local wage index (1.87) and goods index (1.08), a factor of 1.48. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $890 – $1,750 |
San Francisco labor market for asphalt driveway
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for San Francisco is 1.87 times the national level.
For paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071, weighted 40%) the local median is $50.26 an hour, which is 96% above the national $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $38.71 and $59.96 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 1.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $34.91 an hour, 54% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $28.03 and $40.50 an hour. About 11,620 work in the metro. That is 48.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $59.97 an hour, which is 108% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $38.08 and $64.34 an hour. BLS counts 4,080 of them working in the area, 17.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($59.96 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $320. At the 25th percentile ($38.71) it shrinks by about $380. The total moves by 4.4% or 5.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,373,920 jobs in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area. That makes it the 12th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.53% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $38.71 | $50.26 | $59.96 | $25.64 | 1.96 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $28.03 | $34.91 | $40.50 | $22.66 | 1.54 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $38.08 | $59.97 | $64.34 | $28.78 | 2.08 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.87 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in San Francisco
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Francisco wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,100 to $6,700
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$6,050 to $8,650
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$8,000 to $10,600
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,700 – $2,750 | $2,500 – $3,550 | $3,300 – $4,350 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,750 – $4,500 | $4,050 – $5,800 | $5,400 – $7,150 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $4,100 – $6,700 | $6,050 – $8,650 | $8,000 – $10,600 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $6,800 – $11,100 | $10,000 – $14,300 | $13,200 – $17,500 |
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Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $6,050 to $8,650 for San Francisco, CA is attached.
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Asphalt driveway in San Francisco: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in San Francisco?
For 600 sq ft, expect $4,100 to $10,600 in the San Francisco area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,050 to $8,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in San Francisco?
About $6.75 to $17.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $60 to $230 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in San Francisco or Vallejo?
Vallejo is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $6,450, which is 12% less than San Francisco ($7,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Francisco?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $4,000 out of $7,350. Materials are 44% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in San Francisco?
$4,100 to $10,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in San Francisco?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $60 to $230 for fees in the San Francisco area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Francisco expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of California?
San Francisco is 16% above the California statewide estimate ($6,350 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in San Francisco?
The BLS median is $50.26 an hour in the San Francisco area, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $38.71 to $59.96.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in San Francisco?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $4,100 to $6,700 and premium work $8,000 to $10,600. Basic means: new topcoat over a sound base, flat lot. Premium means: full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth.
+Is there a bad season to pave a driveway in San Francisco?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add a sealcoat" add in San Francisco?
$890 to $1,750 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near San Francisco
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Paving an Asphalt Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- PaveGauge: Asphalt Driveway Cost (2026): Price by Size (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = hot-mix asphalt ($2.30-$3.60/sq ft at 3 in) plus aggregate base ($1-$3/sq ft) from PaveGauge's component table.