Kitchen backsplash cost in San Diego, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $320 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $53.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #37
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in San Diego, CA usually costs $320 to $1,600 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $10.50 to $53.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $65 more. Building materials run about 8% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 108.0).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in San Diego, CA, standard level
$710 to $1,200
About $23.50 to $41 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $400 | $730 |
| Labor | $300 | $490 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $710 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in San Diego, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $570 | $970 | 59% |
| Labor | $160 | $400 | $640 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $320 | $970 | $1,600 | 100% |
What is behind the San Diego number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, San Diego wages are 1.06 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. San Diego is at 108.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $570 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 111.9: $0 to $0.
Is San Diego cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than San Diego. Yuma is the lowest at about $850 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 165 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CAthis page | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | |
| El Centro, CA80 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −1% |
| Los Angeles, CA110 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | level |
| Riverside, CA110 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| Oxnard, CA165 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −3% |
| Yuma, AZ165 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −12% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, San Diego ranks #37 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, San Diego is 0% above the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | level |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +5% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | −3% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Diego against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −5% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −16% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | −15% |
What local crews earn in San Diego
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For San Diego the blend is 1.06.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $28.00 an hour, 5% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $22.04 and $35.01 an hour. About 910 work in the metro. That is 5.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.19 an hour, 21% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.16 and $46.12 an hour. About 8,710 work in the metro. That is 56.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $75. That is a swing of roughly 7.8% to 9.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has 1,538,060 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 18th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $22.04 | $28.00 | $35.01 | $26.77 | 1.05 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.16 | $35.19 | $46.12 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in San Diego
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to San Diego. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$320 to $840
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$710 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $320 – $840 | $710 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $540 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,700 |
Why two San Diego quotes can differ
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Planning more than one job in San Diego?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same San Diego wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+14%) and tile flooring lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,400 – $34,700 | +10% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,750 – $16,100 | +14% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,800 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,250 – $26,100 | +12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $3,050 | +9% |
Get 3 local quotes
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 $710 to $1,200 for San Diego, CA is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for San Diego, CA, $9
Multi-page report for San Diego, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen backsplash in San Diego: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in San Diego?
For 30 sq ft, expect $320 to $1,600 in the San Diego area. A standard-spec job lands at $710 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in San Diego?
About $10.50 to $53.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in San Diego or El Centro?
El Centro is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $960, which is 1% less than San Diego ($970). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Diego?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $400 out of $970. Materials are 59% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in San Diego?
$320 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in San Diego?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the San Diego area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Diego expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
San Diego is 0% above the California statewide estimate ($960 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in San Diego?
The BLS median is $28.00 an hour in the San Diego area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.04 to $35.01.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in San Diego?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $320 to $840 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near San Diego
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: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.