Quick Answer

Landscaping Cost in San Diego (2026)

Average cost in San Diego

US$32,500avg

US$5,000 — US$150,000

US$4 — US$50 per sq ft

+6.5% YoY
8 sources
Updated 4 days ago
California

Cost Breakdown

Itemized
Labor

Skilled installation and site prep

US$13,000 — US$19,500

50%

Materials

Plants, pavers, and hardscape

US$9,750 — US$13,000

30%

Design & Planning

Architectural plans and 3D modeling

US$1,625 — US$3,250

8%

Contingency

Unexpected site conditions

US$3,250 — US$4,875

10%

Permits & Fees

City of San Diego compliance

US$650 — US$1,625

2%

🧾Sales Tax (7.25%) — California
Base cost + $2,356 tax$34,856

Sales Tax at 7.25%

📋What's Included

Scope

Typically Includes

  • Sod or seed lawn
  • Garden bed preparation
  • Mulch & edging
  • Shrubs & perennials (basic)
  • Grading & soil prep
  • Labor

Typically Excludes

  • Hardscaping (pavers, retaining walls)
  • Irrigation system
  • Mature tree planting
  • Outdoor lighting
  • Fencing

Based on landscaping a standard 2,000 sq ft front or back yard.

🧮Estimate Your Cost

Interactive

Estimated Cost

US$11,200

US$8,960 — US$13,440

Based on 8 sources and market data for San Diego. Actual costs may vary depending on specific project requirements.

📈Price Momentum

Year-over-year

~1 year ago

US$30,516

Today

US$32,500

Landscaping in San Diego is 6.5% compared to roughly a year ago — about US$1,984 more on the average project.

Comparison derived from the year-over-year change rate, not a month-by-month price index. We don't store historical snapshots yet — when we do, this will become a real time series.

🏢Top Landscaping Contractors in San Diego

Verified providers
🔨

Modern Yardz Landscaping San Diego

8133 Engineer Rd, San Diego, CA 92111, USA

5.0
★★★★★

101 reviews

🔨

Infinite Sky Landscape Design

San Diego, CA 92101, USA

5.0
★★★★★

50 reviews

🔨

Dave Suda Landscape

4385 Twain Ave, San Diego, CA 92120, USA

5.0
★★★★★

35 reviews

🔨

Del Mar Landscapes

6153 Portobelo Ct, San Diego, CA 92124, USA

4.9
★★★★½

55 reviews

🔨

INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Landscape Design & Build San Diego

1084 N El Camino Real STE B #156, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA

4.8
★★★★½

245 reviews

Provider data sourced from public business directories. Ratings and reviews are public and may change. LookupCost is not affiliated with listed providers.

💬What People Actually Paid

Community

Common Questions

Homeowners can receive between $2.00 and $4.00 per square foot through programs like SoCal Water$mart and the County of San Diego, often with an additional $1 per square foot bonus for using native plants.

Permits are generally required for retaining walls over 3 feet in height, any new gas lines for fire pits or outdoor kitchens, and major grading that exceeds 50 cubic yards of soil.

Switching to xeriscaping or native plants typically reduces outdoor water consumption by 50% to 80%, which can save the average San Diego household $600 to $1,200 annually.

A standard residential project in San Diego takes 2 to 12 weeks for installation, following a 1 to 4 week period for design and permitting.

📊Our Methodology

How we collect data
1

Aggregated from 5+ verified web sources and cost databases

2

Licensed contractor estimates and regional cost guides

3

Government construction and labor statistics

4

Community-reported project costs and reviews

Last data collection: 4 days ago. Updates run weekly. All costs in USD.

About this data

Cost figures are estimates synthesized from public market data using AI research and refreshed regularly. Real project costs vary by scope, materials, contractor, and site conditions. Always get verified quotes from licensed contractors for your specific project.

Spotted bad data? Let us know — we'll review and update.