What is the cost of living in Thousand Palms, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Thousand Palms has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Thousand Palms has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Thousand Palms ranks as #59 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Thousand Palms ranks as the #575 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Thousand Palms, check out:
Thousand Palms Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Thousand Palms. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Thousand Palms is 114.
The Groceries index in Thousand Palms is 115.
The Health index in Thousand Palms is 111.
The Housing index in Thousand Palms is 123.
The Transportation index in Thousand Palms is 120.
The Utilities index in Thousand Palms is 122.
| Living Expense | Thousand Palms | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 111 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Thousand 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 Thousand Palms Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Thousand 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 Thousand Palms is $387,023.
The Median Rent in Thousand Palms is $1,495.
The Median Income in Thousand Palms is $77,000.
The Home Value To Income in Thousand Palms is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Thousand Palms is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Thousand Palms | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $387,023 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,495 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,000 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Thousand Palms, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Thousand Palms Services costs vs. California
| Item | Thousand Palms | 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 Thousand Palms Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Thousand Palms | 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 Thousand Palms Health costs vs. California
| Item | Thousand Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Thousand Palms Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Thousand Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Thousand Palms Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Thousand Palms | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Thousand Palms SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Thousand Palms
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Thousand 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, 1.1x Thousand Palms.
Palm Desert, CA has a cost of living index of 137, 1.2x Thousand Palms.
Palm Springs, CA has a cost of living index of 140, 1.2x Thousand Palms.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Thousand Palms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indio, CA | 91,950 | 128 | 1.1x |
| Palm Desert, CA | 51,990 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Palm Springs, CA | 45,070 | 140 | 1.2x |
| Coachella, CA | 43,307 | 116 | 1.0x |
| La Quinta, CA | 38,707 | 140 | 1.2x |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 17,563 | 156 | 1.4x |
| Bermuda Dunes, CA | 7,971 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Desert Palms, CA | 6,579 | 146 | 1.3x |
