San Francisco · Pricing · Updated July 2026
How much do nails cost in San Francisco?
Typical San Francisco ranges — the highest in the country, with a real value pocket in the Sunset and Richmond that most price guides never mention. We refine these against published menus as our salon reviews complete.
The 2026 price table
Typical ranges across the city. Hayes Valley, the Mission ateliers, Union Square and the Marina trend toward the top of each range; the Sunset, Richmond and outer neighborhoods toward the bottom.
| Service | Typical San Francisco price | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Classic manicure | $28–45 | Polish brand, massage length |
| Gel manicure | $50–75 | Brand of gel, French/chrome add-ons |
| Russian (dry) manicure + gel | $85–140 | Tech's training, appointment length |
| Gel-X extensions (full set) | $85–160 | Length, shape, art |
| Acrylic full set | $60–125 | Length, sculpted vs. tips; fills $45–70 |
| Builder gel / BIAB overlay | $60–100 | Overlay vs. short extension |
| Classic pedicure | $40–65 | Massage time, callus work |
| Spa / deluxe pedicure | $65–110 | Scrubs, masks, extended massage |
| Nail art | $5–30 per nail | Hand-painting time, 3D details |
| Gel removal (with service) | $8–20 | Often waived with a new set |
San Francisco’s price logic
- These are the country’s highest nail prices. Rent drives it — a downtown gel manicure can cost double the same service in the avenues, from equally trained hands.
- The avenues are the answer. The Sunset and Richmond hold a deep community of career technicians doing meticulous work at genuinely reasonable prices. Take the N or the Geary bus and save 40%.
- Japanese-style gel art is a real category here. Appointment-only, per-nail pricing, weeks-long waitlists — treat it as commissioning art, because that is what it is.
Cost-per-week: the honest way to compare
A $40 gel manicure that lasts 12 days costs about $23 a week. An $85 Russian manicure worn 4 weeks costs about $21 a week — with cleaner grow-out the whole time. Long-wear services usually win the math; our Russian manicure guide explains why they last.
Tipping in San Francisco
20% is standard in the city, cash preferred by most techs. For per-nail art at the appointment-only studios, tip on the full value of the set.
The curated San Francisco salon directory is in active research — nominate a favorite and we'll add it to the review sweep.