My pool cost about $5,000 about 5 years ago. The pool itself was $2,100 but the excavation, electric, safety ladder, liner installation and associated landscaping (which I didn't do much at all).

It gets expensive when the "standard" excavation doesn't happen. They charge by the inch and for me 3" was included in the liner install price but they had to go down 14" on one side. As a matter of fact - most things about my install wasn't "standard" - electrical was more, ladder was more and the final price came out to $5,000. I think originally our idea was about $3,500

Our opinion is - water is water - and this was a lot cheaper than the possible $20,000 or more for an IG pool. Although this site is full of pool lovers, we also figured that an AG pool is a lot cheaper to get rid of if and when we sell the house or decide we no longer want the pool. I remember looking at houses with IG pools and thinking "great - I need to take care of a pool" (sarcastic tone!!).