What is the cost of living in Joshua Tree, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Joshua Tree has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Joshua Tree has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Joshua Tree ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Joshua Tree ranks as the #611 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Joshua Tree, check out:
Joshua Tree Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Joshua Tree. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Joshua Tree is 106.
The Groceries index in Joshua Tree is 111.
The Health index in Joshua Tree is 90.
The Housing index in Joshua Tree is 114.
The Transportation index in Joshua Tree is 115.
The Utilities index in Joshua Tree is 120.
| Living Expense | Joshua Tree | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 90 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Joshua Tree, 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 Joshua Tree is $347,830.
The Median Rent in Joshua Tree is $1,246.
The Median Income in Joshua Tree is $66,291.
The Home Value To Income in Joshua Tree is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Joshua Tree is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Joshua Tree | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $347,830 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,246 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,291 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Joshua Tree, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Joshua Tree Services costs vs. California
| Item | Joshua Tree | 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 Joshua Tree Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Joshua Tree | 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 Joshua Tree Health costs vs. California
| Item | Joshua Tree | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Joshua Tree Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Joshua Tree | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Joshua Tree Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Joshua Tree | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Joshua Tree SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Joshua Tree
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Joshua Tree. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Redlands, CA has a cost of living index of 145, 1.3x Joshua Tree.
Highland, CA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.2x Joshua Tree.
Yucaipa, CA has a cost of living index of 136, 1.2x Joshua Tree.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Joshua Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redlands, CA | 73,375 | 145 | 1.3x |
| Highland, CA | 56,675 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Yucaipa, CA | 54,421 | 136 | 1.2x |
| Palm Desert, CA | 51,990 | 137 | 1.3x |
| La Quinta, CA | 38,707 | 140 | 1.3x |
| Desert Hot Springs, CA | 33,200 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Twentynine Palms, CA | 27,355 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Yucca Valley, CA | 21,770 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 17,563 | 156 | 1.4x |
| Mentone, CA | 9,514 | 128 | 1.2x |
