What is the cost of living in Palm Desert, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palm Desert has an overall cost of living index of 137, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Palm Desert has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Palm Desert ranks as #208 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Palm Desert ranks as the #426 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Palm Desert, check out:
Palm Desert Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palm Desert. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palm Desert is 111.
The Groceries index in Palm Desert is 115.
The Health index in Palm Desert is 186.
The Housing index in Palm Desert is 115.
The Transportation index in Palm Desert is 121.
The Utilities index in Palm Desert is 118.
| Living Expense | Palm Desert | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 137 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 186 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palm Desert, 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 Palm Desert is $554,373.
The Median Rent in Palm Desert is $1,778.
The Median Income in Palm Desert is $77,513.
The Home Value To Income in Palm Desert is 7.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palm Desert is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Palm Desert | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $554,373 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,778 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,513 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Palm Desert, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Palm Desert Services costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Desert | 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 Palm Desert Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Desert | 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 Palm Desert Health costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Desert | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Palm Desert Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Desert | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Palm Desert Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Desert | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Palm Desert SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palm Desert
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palm Desert. 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 Palm Desert.
Palm Springs, CA has a cost of living index of 140, 1.0x Palm Desert.
Coachella, CA has a cost of living index of 116, 0.8x Palm Desert.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palm Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indio, CA | 91,950 | 128 | 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 | 1.0x |
| Thousand Palms, CA | 7,720 | 115 | 0.8x |
| Desert Palms, CA | 6,579 | 146 | 1.1x |
