chobit

I don't think it's cheap in US for auto-car-works, since the labour rate his is pretty high.  as for brake pad, it's important not only on the material, but the quality of the brake pads.  Eg. some brake pads doesn't brake well until your brake warm up, some pads don't have the materials evenly spread, so less pad materials can make contact to the rotor (Disc brake), etc..!

My suggestion is either go for OEM pads, or do some research first..