[Oakland] Backyard Advice - Concrete, Pavers, or Mulch?

[Calvin Kwan]

Hi All,

The last step of my rental renovation is to landscape my backyard.  I want to create something that is maintenance free and durable.  There's a patch of dirt (~15'x20') in the backyard that needs to be addressed. I've been exploring the idea of brick pavers, slab concrete, or even just rubber mulch.  I'm leaning towards brick pavers or concrete, since the space wouldn't be very usable if I just mulched over it.  

What do you guys think?  What would be the most economical option?  Are brick pavers something I even want to tackle myself?  I like the durability of pavers, but it might be the more expensive option.

Thanks,

Calvin