What is the cost of living in Desert Palms, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Desert Palms has an overall cost of living index of 146, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Desert Palms has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Desert Palms ranks as #275 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Desert Palms ranks as the #359 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Desert Palms, check out:
Desert Palms Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Desert Palms. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Desert Palms is 111.
The Groceries index in Desert Palms is 117.
The Health index in Desert Palms is 211.
The Housing index in Desert Palms is 115.
The Transportation index in Desert Palms is 119.
The Utilities index in Desert Palms is 117.
| Living Expense | Desert Palms | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 146 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 211 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Desert Palms 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 Palms Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Desert Palms, 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 Palms is $598,200.
The Median Rent in Desert Palms is $1,957.
The Median Income in Desert Palms is $79,792.
The Home Value To Income in Desert Palms is 7.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Desert Palms is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Desert Palms | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $598,200 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,957 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $79,792 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Desert Palms, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Desert Palms Services costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Desert Palms Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Desert Palms Health costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Desert Palms Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Desert Palms Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Desert Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Desert Palms SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Desert Palms
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Desert Palms. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Indio, CA has a cost of living index of 128, 0.9x Desert Palms.
Palm Desert, CA has a cost of living index of 137, 0.9x Desert Palms.
Palm Springs, CA has a cost of living index of 140, 1.0x Desert Palms.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Desert Palms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indio, CA | 91,950 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Palm Desert, CA | 51,990 | 137 | 0.9x |
| Palm Springs, CA | 45,070 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Coachella, CA | 43,307 | 116 | 0.8x |
| La Quinta, CA | 38,707 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 17,563 | 156 | 1.1x |
| Bermuda Dunes, CA | 7,971 | 137 | 0.9x |
| Thousand Palms, CA | 7,720 | 115 | 0.8x |
