What is the cost of living in Palmdale, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palmdale has an overall cost of living index of 131, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Palmdale has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Palmdale ranks as #167 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Palmdale ranks as the #467 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Palmdale, check out:
Palmdale Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palmdale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palmdale is 113.
The Groceries index in Palmdale is 116.
The Health index in Palmdale is 160.
The Housing index in Palmdale is 118.
The Transportation index in Palmdale is 117.
The Utilities index in Palmdale is 124.
| Living Expense | Palmdale | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 131 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 160 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Palmdale 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 Palmdale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palmdale, 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 Palmdale is $501,257.
The Median Rent in Palmdale is $1,802.
The Median Income in Palmdale is $81,770.
The Home Value To Income in Palmdale is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palmdale is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Palmdale | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $501,257 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,802 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,770 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Palmdale, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Palmdale Services costs vs. California
| Item | Palmdale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Palmdale Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Palmdale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Palmdale Health costs vs. California
| Item | Palmdale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Palmdale Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Palmdale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Palmdale Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Palmdale | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Palmdale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palmdale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palmdale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lancaster, CA has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Palmdale.
Rosamond, CA has a cost of living index of 115, 0.9x Palmdale.
Lake Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Palmdale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palmdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, CA | 169,169 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Rosamond, CA | 21,473 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Lake Los Angeles, CA | 13,051 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Quartz Hill, CA | 11,510 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Acton, CA | 7,880 | 161 | 1.2x |
