Concrete 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)
- $4,850 – $12,600
- Per sq ft
- $8 – $20.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +36%
- US $6,450
- Rank of 300 metros
- #3
- 1 = most expensive
San Francisco homeowners pay roughly $4,850 to $12,600 to pour a concrete driveway at 600 sq ft, or $8 to $20.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, San Francisco is 36% higher. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $36.53 an hour in the San Francisco area, 33% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in San Francisco, CA, standard level
$7,200 to $10,300
About $12 to $17 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 75% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $5,250 | $7,850 |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $180 |
| Total | $7,200 | $10,300 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in San Francisco, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $2,050 | $2,600 | 23% |
| Labor | $3,300 | $6,550 | $9,800 | 75% |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 | $230 | 2% |
| Total | $4,850 | $8,750 | $12,600 | 100% |
Where the San Francisco price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on cement masons and concrete finishers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $36.53 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for San Francisco is 1.48 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 75% of the total.
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 $2,050, compared with $1,900 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (115.6) and land at $60 to $230.
When to schedule concrete driveway in San Francisco
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 pouring concrete in San Francisco: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low of 40°F or below) 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 |
Related projects, priced for 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,100 – $10,600 | +41% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,650 – $14,700 | +45% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $6,450 | +26% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $4,050 – $10,200 | +27% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,800 – $6,950 | +27% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,550 – $5,250 | +30% |
San Francisco: what basic, standard and premium work costs
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
$4,850 to $7,950
Plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site
Standard
$7,200 to $10,300
5-inch with rebar and saw-cut joints, a border or one color
Premium
$9,500 to $12,600
6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,950 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,250 | $3,900 – $5,200 |
| 2-car (20x24), 480 sq ft | $3,900 – $6,400 | $5,750 – $8,250 | $7,650 – $10,200 |
| 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) | $4,850 – $7,950 | $7,200 – $10,300 | $9,500 – $12,600 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $7,250 – $11,900 | $10,700 – $15,400 | $14,200 – $18,800 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 4 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for San Francisco is 1.48 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $36.53 an hour, which is 33% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $29.20 and $48.73 an hour. BLS counts 2,420 of them working in the area, 10.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), 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 10%) 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.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) 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.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the cement masons and concrete finishers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($48.73 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $980. At the 25th percentile ($29.20) it shrinks by about $590. The total moves by 11.2% or 6.7%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $29.20 | $36.53 | $48.73 | $27.41 | 1.33 | 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) | 10% | $38.08 | $59.97 | $64.34 | $28.78 | 2.08 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $30.45 | $42.89 | $48.26 | $29.12 | 1.47 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.48 | |||||
Why two San Francisco quotes can differ
Thickness
HomeGuide prices a standard 4-inch driveway at $6-$15/sq ft and a 6-inch one, recommended for heavy vehicles, at $8-$20/sq ft.
Old driveway removal
Tearing out the old surface adds about $2-$6 per sq ft, and some cities want the haul-off documented.
Grading and drainage
Professional grading runs $3-$8 per sq ft or $700-$2,500 for a typical job. A sloped lot or poor soil raises it.
San Francisco against nearby metros and the rest of California
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 $7,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CAthis page | $4,850 – $12,600 | $8,750 | |
| Vallejo, CA40 miles | $4,200 – $10,800 | $7,500 | −14% |
| Napa, CA50 miles | $4,400 – $11,400 | $7,900 | −9% |
| Santa Cruz, CA55 miles | $4,050 – $10,400 | $7,200 | −17% |
| Stockton, CA55 miles | $3,950 – $10,100 | $7,000 | −20% |
| Santa Rosa, CA65 miles | $4,250 – $10,900 | $7,550 | −13% |
| California (statewide) | $4,200 – $10,700 | $7,450 | −15% |
| United States | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,450 | −26% |
Across 300 US metros, San Francisco comes in at #3 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $10,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $4,950 (midpoints, 600 sq ft). Statewide, San Francisco is 17% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $4,200 – $10,800 | $7,500 | −14% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,000 – $10,200 | $7,100 | −19% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $4,250 – $10,800 | $7,500 | −14% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $4,700 – $12,200 | $8,450 | −3% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $4,150 – $10,600 | $7,350 | −16% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $3,950 – $9,950 | $6,950 | −21% |
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 | $3,650 – $9,250 | $6,450 | −26% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $4,550 – $11,800 | $8,150 | −7% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $4,100 – $10,600 | $7,350 | −16% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $4,350 – $11,200 | $7,800 | −11% |
Optional extras in San Francisco
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to San Francisco by the average of the local wage index (1.48) and goods index (1.08), a factor of 1.28. 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 rebar reinforcement | $770 – $2,300 |
| Remove the old driveway | $1,550 – $4,600 |
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 $7,200 to $10,300 for San Francisco, CA is attached.
Detailed concrete driveway report for San Francisco, CA, $9
The report lays out the concrete driveway 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.
Concrete driveway in San Francisco: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in San Francisco?
For 600 sq ft, expect $4,850 to $12,600 in the San Francisco area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,200 to $10,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete driveway in San Francisco?
About $8 to $20.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $60 to $230 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $15.
+Is concrete driveway cheaper in San Francisco or Vallejo?
Vallejo is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $7,500, which is 14% less than San Francisco ($8,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Francisco?
About 75% at the midpoint, or $6,550 out of $8,750. Materials are 23% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 69%.
+What would 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) cost in San Francisco?
$4,850 to $12,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete 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 concrete driveway compared with the rest of California?
San Francisco is 17% above the California statewide estimate ($7,450 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in San Francisco?
The BLS median is $36.53 an hour in the San Francisco area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.20 to $48.73.
+What do basic and premium concrete driveway work cost in San Francisco?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $4,850 to $7,950 and premium work $9,500 to $12,600. Basic means: plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site. Premium means: 6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed.
+Is there a bad season to pour a concrete 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 rebar reinforcement" add in San Francisco?
$770 to $2,300 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete 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 a Concrete Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- SimplyWise: Concrete Estimate Template: Free PDF + Excel (2026) (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 = SimplyWise's sample 600 sq ft, 4-inch driveway line ($1,400-$2,400 in materials) divided by 600 sq ft.