What Concrete Work Costs in La Mesa
Here is a La Mesa concrete budget, line by line, from public prices we checked on October 31, 2026. Each number has a source. None of it is our quote.
Start With Three Common Jobs
| Job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Tear out and replace a 400 sq ft driveway slab | $3,992 | $7,328 |
| New 200 sq ft patio, 10 by 20 ft | $1,568 | $2,928 |
| Tear out and replace a 4 by 50 ft walk | $1,996 | $3,664 |
These come from two public unit price lists that agencies use to size bonds on street work. The County of San Diego list from July 2024 sets the low end. The City of Carlsbad list from November 2024 sets the high end. A new 4 inch slab runs $7.84 to $14.64 a sq ft, and removing the old one runs $2.14 to $3.68. They are installed prices with labor and material, not bids.
The City Part of the Bill
A walk on your lot at 30 inches or less over grade needs no construction permit in La Mesa. Work in the street right of way does. On the fee schedule effective April 1, 2025, a minor encroachment for a driveway is $222 plus a $401 inspection, or $623. A traffic control plan check adds $177.
La Mesa also holds a deposit equal to the job cost, at least $600, until the work passes. Plan for that cash up front. More in the permit guide.
A Yard of Concrete
No ready mix plant in the County posts a retail price online. The closest public number is the City of San Diego contract with Pedroza Ready Mix, signed in October 2024. It lists $205.50 a cubic yard for 3,250 psi and $212.50 for 4,000 psi. Color in the truck adds $30 a yard.
That is a bulk rate for a big buyer. A La Mesa driveway is about 5 yards with extra, so expect more per yard and maybe a short load charge. Ask the plant for both before you compare bids.
Bags and Supplies Nearby
The closest Home Depot to La Mesa is in Lemon Grove. There, a 90 lb bag of Quikrete concrete mix was $6.87 on October 31, 2026, with 737 in stock. Quikrete says that bag makes about 0.675 cubic feet. A cubic yard takes 40 bags, or $274.80.
- #4 rebar, 10 ft, $6.32, or $5.37 each for 50 or more
- Remesh sheet, 42 by 84 in, $21.67
- 2x4 by 8 ft form board, $3.95
- 24 in grade stakes, 12 pack, $12.98
- Liquid cement color, 10 oz, $9.97
The bag price is from the Lemon Grove store. The rest are Home Depot prices from the same day that matched at each county store we checked. Steel for a 400 sq ft slab on an 18 inch grid is 60 ten foot bars, about $322.
Hauling the Old Concrete
The FHWA uses 145 pounds per cubic foot for normal concrete. A 400 sq ft slab at 4 inches is 133 cubic feet, close to 9.7 tons.
The Miramar Landfill fee schedule from July 1, 2026 charges $257 a ton for C&D debris from outside the City of San Diego, so landfilling that slab is about $2,490. In town, the City of San Diego list of certified C&D recycling facilities names EDCO Station on Commercial Street in La Mesa, and SANCO Resource Recovery in Lemon Grove. Call them for a rate.
What the Crew Earns
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports May 2025 pay for the San Diego, Chula Vista and Carlsbad area, which takes in La Mesa. Cement masons and concrete finishers average $35.73 an hour, with a median of $31.98. Construction laborers average $29.08.
One day of wages for a mason and two laborers at the average is $751.12. A contractor also pays payroll tax, trucks, tools and the office, so the labor on a bid runs higher.
What Moves a La Mesa Price
- Hillside streets and steep driveways
- Walls on sloped lots, at $26.47 a sq ft in city value
- Clay soil that needs more base
- Apron work and the city deposit
- Stamping, color or exposed aggregate
- Truck access, or a pump when the truck cannot reach
Send photos and rough sizes with your request. We use them to give you a written price.
Common Questions
How much does a concrete driveway cost in La Mesa?
From public unit prices, tearing out and replacing a 400 sq ft slab runs $3,992 to $7,328 before permits. A new apron adds $623 to $800 in city fees plus a deposit.
How much is a yard of concrete near La Mesa?
The closest public number is the City of San Diego contract with Pedroza Ready Mix, $205.50 to $212.50 a yard. A single home order usually pays more.
Where can I take old concrete in La Mesa?
The City of San Diego certified list names EDCO Station on Commercial Street in La Mesa for mixed C&D loads. Call for the rate before you haul.