What is the cost of living in Desert Hot Springs, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Desert Hot Springs has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Desert Hot Springs has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Desert Hot Springs ranks as #66 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Desert Hot Springs ranks as the #568 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Desert Hot Springs, check out:
Desert Hot Springs Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Desert Hot Springs. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Desert Hot Springs is 108.
The Groceries index in Desert Hot Springs is 113.
The Health index in Desert Hot Springs is 120.
The Housing index in Desert Hot Springs is 115.
The Transportation index in Desert Hot Springs is 113.
The Utilities index in Desert Hot Springs is 122.
| Living Expense | Desert Hot Springs | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 120 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Desert Hot Springs Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Desert Hot Springs Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Desert Hot Springs, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Desert Hot Springs is $377,729.
The Median Rent in Desert Hot Springs is $1,412.
The Median Income in Desert Hot Springs is $52,761.
The Home Value To Income in Desert Hot Springs is 7.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Desert Hot Springs is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Desert Hot Springs | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $377,729 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,412 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,761 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Desert Hot Springs, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Desert Hot Springs Services costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Hot Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Desert Hot Springs Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Hot Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Desert Hot Springs Health costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Hot Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Desert Hot Springs Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Hot Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Desert Hot Springs Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Hot Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Desert Hot Springs SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Desert Hot Springs
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Desert Hot Springs. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Palm Desert, CA has a cost of living index of 137, 1.2x Desert Hot Springs.
Palm Springs, CA has a cost of living index of 140, 1.2x Desert Hot Springs.
Yucca Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x Desert Hot Springs.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Desert Hot Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Desert, CA | 51,990 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Palm Springs, CA | 45,070 | 140 | 1.2x |
| Yucca Valley, CA | 21,770 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 17,563 | 156 | 1.3x |
| Thousand Palms, CA | 7,720 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Garnet, CA | 7,382 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Desert Palms, CA | 6,579 | 146 | 1.3x |
| Joshua Tree, CA | 6,234 | 109 | 0.9x |
