lead water service line replacement

We have a 0.5" lead service line that was tapped in 1901 in Denver that gives us good pressure 80 psi but very poor flow ~2.5 gpm. The main line is ~30' (in the street) from the meter pit and another 50' to the hot water heater. The city requires the line be buired 4.5', so that would be more hand digging than I would want to or can do. We have two quotes to put in new 0.75" copper line between $4000 and $5000, which seems high for a days work and does not include the permit fees. Any comments or suggestions to help us reduce the cost?

line

In most areas the city would install the pipe from the main to the meter for a nominal cost. There is nothing you can do to reduce the cost, other than to find a cheaper plumber. If you have to do the replacement from the main to the meter, that often requires a lot more cost and paperwork than the portion from the meter to the house. But since the work is the same either way, I would install a 1" pipe rather than a 3/4" one.

As HJ says, the labor is this same and the difference in price minimal, so go with a 1" line. One way you might be able to save some money is to rent a trencher and hire someone to operate it if you don't feel able to do it. If you have a plumber do that labor, you will be paying a lot more than you would be able to hire casual labor.