Cost guide · Updated Aug 7, 2026

Move-out cleaning cost in San Diego in 2026

Move-out cleaning in San Diego runs $250 to $700 in 2026 for a typical 2-bedroom apartment — median around $425. Inside-oven, inside-fridge, and carpet shampoo are the three add-ons that push a quote past $500. Book at least a week ahead in August or you'll pay a same-week premium.

Typical range

$250 – $700

~$425 for a 2-BR / 1,000–1,300 sq ft · benchmark $0.25–$0.40 per sq ft

By scope

Scope	Price	Notes
Studio / 1-BR	$180 – $325	~700 sq ft
2-BR / 1,000–1,500 sq ft	$325 – $525	Most common quote
3-BR / 1,500–2,200 sq ft	$475 – $700	Add carpet if requested
4+ BR or heavy-condition	$700 – $950	Multi-crew day

What swings the price

Inside-oven ($40–$75), inside-fridge ($40–$75), inside cabinets — usually itemized.
Carpet shampoo — $150–$250 on top of the base clean, most cleaners subcontract.
Wall scuffs + nail-hole spackle — sometimes included, often extra.
Same-day-as-key-handoff rush premium.

San Diego specifics

Late July through early September is a hard capacity crunch in San Diego. Navy PCS moves plus UCSD, SDSU, and PB / La Jolla student turnover push same-week bookings up 15–25%, and the good crews go booked-solid a week or more ahead. Book by mid-July if your move-out is in August. Same for the mid-June rotation at Miramar.

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FAQs

How much does move-out cleaning cost in San Diego?

$250–$700 for a typical apartment — 2-BR/1,000–1,300 sq ft lands around $425. Benchmark is $0.25–$0.40 per square foot for a full move-out (kitchen deep-clean, bathrooms, floors, windows, wall spot-clean).

What's included in a move-out clean vs a regular clean?

A move-out adds: inside-oven and inside-fridge (often as add-ons), inside cabinets and drawers, baseboards top-to-bottom, window tracks, and a wall spot-clean. Time-wise it's usually 2–3× a recurring clean of the same square footage.

Will move-out cleaning get me my security deposit back in San Diego?

It helps but doesn't guarantee it — landlords assess damage separately. A professional move-out clean (with receipt) is strong evidence in a deposit dispute, especially when the itemized invoice matches your lease's move-out condition clause. Keep the receipt for at least 6 months.

Should I clean the oven and fridge myself to save money?

You can. Oven is 45–90 minutes of hard work; fridge is 20–30. Together that's $80–$150 saved. If your time is worth more than that, hire it — cleaners have the chemistry and won't leave streaks on the appliance faces the landlord inspects first.

How far ahead should I book move-out cleaning in San Diego?

1–2 weeks in most months. 3+ weeks in August (peak lease-turnover season) or you'll pay a same-week rush premium.

Sources

Related cost guides

Prices refresh quarterly. Last review: Aug 7, 2026.