What is the cost of living in Palm Springs, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palm Springs has an overall cost of living index of 140, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Palm Springs has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Palm Springs ranks as #234 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Palm Springs ranks as the #400 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Palm Springs, check out:
Palm Springs Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palm Springs. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palm Springs is 107.
The Groceries index in Palm Springs is 113.
The Health index in Palm Springs is 193.
The Housing index in Palm Springs is 117.
The Transportation index in Palm Springs is 113.
The Utilities index in Palm Springs is 118.
| Living Expense | Palm Springs | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 140 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 193 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Palm 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 Palm Springs Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palm 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 Palm Springs is $624,876.
The Median Rent in Palm Springs is $1,562.
The Median Income in Palm Springs is $73,119.
The Home Value To Income in Palm Springs is 8.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palm Springs is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Palm Springs | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $624,876 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,562 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,119 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Palm Springs, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Palm Springs Services costs vs. California
| Item | Palm 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 Palm Springs Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Palm 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 Palm Springs Health costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Palm Springs Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Palm Springs Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Palm Springs | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Palm Springs SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palm Springs
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palm Springs. 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 Springs.
Palm Desert, CA has a cost of living index of 137, 1.0x Palm Springs.
La Quinta, CA has a cost of living index of 140, 1.0x Palm Springs.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palm Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indio, CA | 91,950 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Palm Desert, CA | 51,990 | 137 | 1.0x |
| La Quinta, CA | 38,707 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Desert Hot Springs, CA | 33,200 | 116 | 0.8x |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 17,563 | 156 | 1.1x |
| Bermuda Dunes, CA | 7,971 | 137 | 1.0x |
| Thousand Palms, CA | 7,720 | 115 | 0.8x |
| Garnet, CA | 7,382 | 113 | 0.8x |
| Desert Palms, CA | 6,579 | 146 | 1.0x |
