Cost to Drywall Installation in San Diego, CA

$1,350–$6,750 in San Diego

35% above the national average · 1.35x cost multiplier

Expect to pay $1,350–$6,750 for a drywall installation in San Diego, about 35% above the national benchmark. The West Coast region's contractor market and material costs account for most of this difference. The detailed breakdown below shows how budget, mid-range, and premium projects compare at San Diego prices.

Cost Breakdown in San Diego

Line Item	Low	Mid	High
Cost per sq ft	$2	$3	$5
Materials	$675	$1,215	$2,700
Labor	$945	$1,890	$4,725
Permits	$0	$0	$405
Total	$1,620+35% vs. national avg	$3,105+35% vs. national avg	$7,830+35% vs. national avg

Budget

New drywall in one room, standard 1/2-inch, basic tape and mud

Mid-Range

Multi-room drywall, includes taping, mudding, and texture coat

Premium

Full basement or addition finish, moisture-resistant board where needed, level 5 finish

Material Options

Material prices below are national averages; availability in San Diego may shift costs slightly.

Material	Cost/Unit	Pros	Cons	Best For
Standard 1/2-Inch Drywall	$0.40-$0.60/sq ft materials	Most common, widely available, cost-effective, works for most walls	Not moisture or fire resistant in standard form	Interior walls and ceilings in living spacesMost common, widely available, cost-effective, works for most walls
Moisture-Resistant (Green Board)	$0.60-$0.80/sq ft materials	Handles humidity better than standard, good for bathrooms	Not waterproof - not suitable for wet areas like showers	Bathroom walls (non-wet areas), laundry rooms, basementsHandles humidity better than standard, good for bathrooms
Mold-Resistant (Purple Board)	$0.80-$1.00/sq ft materials	Best moisture and mold resistance without cement board	Higher cost, not needed in dry areas	Basements, bathrooms, any area with chronic moisture concernsBest moisture and mold resistance without cement board
5/8-Inch Fire-Rated (Type X)	$0.70-$0.90/sq ft materials	1-hour fire rating, better sound dampening, required by code in some locations	Heavier, harder to work with, higher cost	Garage walls, between dwelling units, required by local code1-hour fire rating, better sound dampening, required by code in some locations
Cement Board	$1.00-$1.80/sq ft materials	Waterproof, required behind tile in wet areas	Heavy, harder to cut, not for dry areas	Shower surrounds, tub decks, any area that gets wet (not drywall at all here)Waterproof, required behind tile in wet areas

Other Projects in San Diego

Solar Panel Installation

Full Kitchen Remodel

Full Bathroom Remodel

Back to national average for Drywall Installation

San Diego Estimate

Typical Range

$1,350–$6,750

vs. National Average

35% above national

Cost Multiplier

1.35x

Cost Per sq ft

$2–$5

Estimates apply San Diego's 1.35x regional cost multiplier to national averages. Actual bids vary by contractor, project scope, and timing.

See national average costs →