Bathroom remodel cost in San Francisco, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $5,650 – $28,000
- Per sq ft
- $121 – $603
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +20%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #7
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a bathroom in San Francisco, plan on $5,650 to $28,000 for 45 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $121 to $603 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 20% higher than the national one. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $37.44 an hour in the San Francisco area, 22% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in San Francisco, CA, standard level
$12,400 to $21,300
About $265 to $458 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,850 | $8,350 |
| Labor | $7,100 | $12,300 |
| Permits and fees | $440 | $720 |
| Total | $12,400 | $21,300 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in San Francisco, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,200 | $6,600 | $11,000 | 39% |
| Labor | $3,250 | $9,700 | $16,100 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $580 | $920 | 3% |
| Total | $5,650 | $16,900 | $28,000 | 100% |
Why San Francisco prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 25%, tile and stone setters at 25%, carpenters at 20%, electricians at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 10%. Weighted together, San Francisco wages are 1.30 times the national level. Labor makes up about 57% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Francisco metro is 108.5 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $6,600, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (115.6) and land at $230 to $920.
Is San Francisco cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than San Francisco. Stockton is the lowest at about $15,000 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CAthis page | $5,650 – $28,000 | $16,900 | |
| Vallejo, CA40 miles | $5,200 – $25,900 | $15,500 | −8% |
| Napa, CA50 miles | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | −7% |
| Santa Cruz, CA55 miles | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | −7% |
| Stockton, CA55 miles | $5,050 – $24,900 | $15,000 | −11% |
| Santa Rosa, CA65 miles | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | −7% |
| California (statewide) | $5,200 – $25,900 | $15,600 | −8% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −17% |
Across 300 US metros, San Francisco comes in at #7 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, San Francisco is 8% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $5,200 – $25,700 | $15,500 | −8% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | −14% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | −7% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $5,750 – $28,500 | $17,100 | +2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | −10% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $4,900 – $24,200 | $14,600 | −14% |
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 | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | −20% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $5,750 – $28,600 | $17,200 | +2% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $5,600 – $27,800 | $16,700 | −1% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $5,600 – $27,700 | $16,600 | −1% |
Why two San Francisco quotes can differ
Contractor fee
A general contractor charges $50-$150 an hour or 10-20% of the project cost.
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
Size
HomeGuide's average-size bathroom comes to $3,500-$25,000+; per square foot it's $100-$500.
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
$5,650 to $14,600
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$12,400 to $21,300
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$19,100 to $28,000
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,650 – $6,800 | $5,750 – $9,900 | $8,850 – $13,000 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $5,050 – $13,000 | $11,000 – $19,000 | $17,000 – $25,000 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $7,450 – $19,300 | $16,400 – $28,200 | $25,200 – $37,100 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $12,300 – $31,800 | $27,000 – $46,500 | $41,600 – $61,200 |
What nearby projects cost 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, kitchen cabinets runs +27% and kitchen backsplash +13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,200 | +15% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,200 – $36,100 | +15% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $5,100 – $18,000 | +27% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,350 – $17,300 | +16% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $340 – $1,700 | +13% |
San Francisco labor market for bathroom remodel
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for San Francisco is 1.30 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $37.44 an hour, which is 22% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.12 and $58.54 an hour. BLS counts 5,660 of them working in the area, 23.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 25%) the local median is $30.98 an hour, which is 16% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $38.43 an hour. BLS counts 1,020 of them working in the area, 4.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $42.89 an hour, which is 47% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.45 and $48.26 an hour. BLS counts 14,010 of them working in the area, 59.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $44.63 an hour, 47% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $33.70 and $62.63 an hour. About 9,060 work in the metro. That is 38.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $39.50 an hour, 39% above the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $32.53 and $56.67 an hour. About 2,510 work in the metro. That is 10.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.58 an hour, which is 29% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $27.13 and $37.68 an hour. BLS counts 5,310 of them working in the area, 22.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($58.54 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,300. At the 25th percentile ($30.12) it shrinks by about $440. The total moves by 7.6% or 2.6%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $30.12 | $37.44 | $58.54 | $30.67 | 1.22 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $24.06 | $30.98 | $38.43 | $26.77 | 1.16 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $30.45 | $42.89 | $48.26 | $29.12 | 1.47 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $33.70 | $44.63 | $62.63 | $30.38 | 1.47 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $32.53 | $39.50 | $56.67 | $28.33 | 1.39 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $27.13 | $30.58 | $37.68 | $23.75 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
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Detailed bathroom remodel report for San Francisco, CA, $9
The report lays out the bathroom remodel numbers for San Francisco, CA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Bathroom remodel in San Francisco: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in San Francisco?
For 45 sq ft, expect $5,650 to $28,000 in the San Francisco area. A standard-spec job lands at $12,400 to $21,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in San Francisco?
About $121 to $603 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $230 to $920 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in San Francisco or Vallejo?
Vallejo is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $15,500, which is 8% less than San Francisco ($16,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Francisco?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $9,700 out of $16,900. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in San Francisco?
$7,450 to $37,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in San Francisco?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $230 to $920 for fees in the San Francisco area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Francisco expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of California?
San Francisco is 8% above the California statewide estimate ($15,600 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in San Francisco?
The BLS median is $37.44 an hour in the San Francisco area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.12 to $58.54.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in San Francisco?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $5,650 to $14,600 and premium work $19,100 to $28,000. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel 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 a Bathroom Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (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
Note on derived figures: Materials = 45% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range split for bathroom projects (50% labor, 45% materials, 5% permits and design). Their sample is their own guides, not a survey of contractors, so treat the split as approximate.