Chevrolet Repair: oil leak, valve cover gasket, advance auto part

Question
I have a 99 Chevy cavalier and have an oil leak that a shop looked at and told me it was the head gasket and valve cover gasket. The shop told me it would be about $1,100 to repair because they would have to take the engine out to get to it. Could you tell me the prcicing on a head gasket and valve cover gasket and how easy it is to fix this problem please? also does this cost seem too expensive? Thanks  

Answer
first off where is the oil leaking from? and have you noticed a drop in oil level at the dipstick? second pricing varys from state to state and mechanic to mechanic. the gaskets by themselves shouldnt be alot, what i do is go to an online auto parts stor like advance auto part or napa or some well know parts store. i go online and price what i need or what the mechanic told me. no some mechanics let you buy your own parts and they installl them for a lower price but they are hard to find. as for what you told me, i dont see why they would have to take out the engine to get the head and valve cover gasket, its right on top. it is a seroius prob if not fixed but without confirmed leakage or oil loss i would get a second or third opinion.

keep me posted as to what happens, it increases my knowledege to help others..!!