It’s not the maintenance costs for chemicals that are expensive. It’s the installation of a saltwater generator that can be pricey. Typically you’re looking at anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 for installation. Your monthly chemical costs should drop substantially though. Most pool owners typically spend $100-$200 a month on chemicals. You may spend that for the entire season with a saltwater pool. As far as maintaining the pool, a salt water pool still needs to be cleaned regularly. Just because you own a saltwater pool does not mean that negates doing regular pool maintenance. Those costs should stay the same whether you own a salt water pool or not.