How Much does an Inground Swimming Pool Cost in San Diego?

So, how much does an inground swimming pool cost in San Diego?

Most homeowners, at some point in their life, have toyed around with the idea of building a swimming pool in their own backyard. Seeing as you’ve found your way to this article, we’re going to go out on a limb here and say that you’re probably flirting with the same idea, and who can blame you?

Swimming pools are fun, especially when you’re living in a beautiful climate like Southern California which will let you enjoy your time in the water year round. However, there is pricing to consider, along with the cost of upkeep. Let’s take a detailed look at the cost of building your own pool, and the different factors that come into play.

Average Pool Cost in San Diego, CA

On average, building an inground swimming pool in San Diego will cost you $27,972 according to Home Advisor. The majority of homeowners spend between $14,492 and $41,629, which is well below the national average. 

Looking at the numbers, you can see that there’s quite a big range when it comes to pricing. The reason being, not all pools are alike, and there are tons of factors that you need to consider before getting a definitive cost for your project.

Factors can generally be broken down into 4 categories:

1. Where you live
2. When you buy
3. Type of pool
4. What you buy

Where You Live

The cost of living in California is higher than most other states, which means labor costs are often inflated. Logically, it would seem that building a pool in San Diego would be more expensive, but living in America’s Finest City doesn’t actually drive the price up too much.

Where you live within San Diego also plays a role in your overall cost.

California is known to have tons of rules and regulations, especially when it comes to construction. Between the permits, fees, and additional construction to ensure your pool is compliant, things can quickly add up.

When You Buy

The best time to hire a pool contractor to build your own backyard swimming oasis is during the offseason. Colder months are generally considered the off season, which means there is less demand. Meaning, you’ll enjoy better pricing, and get a better value for your dollar.

So, if you’re going to invest in building your own pool, make sure to do so during the winter months, not the summer months.

Type of Pool

If you’ve never owned a pool before, there are generally 4 types of inground swimming pools that you can choose from:

• Concrete (Gunite)
• Vinyl
• Fiberglass
• Alternative Finishes

Each material comes with its own set of pros and cons, which you can learn more about here. For the purpose of this article, all you need to know is that whatever you choose will have a direct affect on the price of your swimming pool.

For example, concrete and fiberglass pools typically cost around the same, and come with higher price tags than vinyl pools. That being said, the vinyl pools will require more maintenance, and you’ll have to replace the vinyl lining every 5 to 10 years, which makes for more expensive upkeep.

Make sure to talk to your pool contractor to understand all costs associated with the pool, so you can make a decision that best suits your budget.

What You Buy

The pool you buy, along with all the accessories, will ultimately play the biggest factor when it comes to the cost of your pool in San Diego. The majority of pool builders and contractors price projects by the square foot, so the bigger and deeper your pool, the more expensive it will be.

On average, inground swimming pools cost anywhere from $50 to $125 per square foot to install, and that’s without any upgrades.

There are also other add-ons to consider when determining the price of your pool. For example, the pump and filtration system that you choose, retaining walls, pool decks, and hot tubs.