C
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
16%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Twentynine Palms California National
Cost of living96140100
Goods & Services107111100
Groceries102112100
Health care94109100
Housing84196100
Transportation100126100
Utilities84127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Twentynine Palms, CA

The cost of living in Twentynine Palms affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Twentynine Palms is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Twentynine Palms closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Twentynine Palms can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Twentynine Palms?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 6 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Twentynine Palms and this is how they responded. 67% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 33% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Twentynine Palms Affordable?

Wondering if Twentynine Palms is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Twentynine Palms, for example, the median home price is 24.5% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 2.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Twentynine Palms boasting a median household income of $42,959, which is 22.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Twentynine Palms?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Twentynine Palms, the utilities index is 16.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Twentynine Palms cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Twentynine Palms is 31% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Twentynine Palms is 4% lower than the national average
  • Twentynine Palms housing is 16% lower than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 56% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Twentynine Palms

See all the best places to live around Twentynine Palms

Compare Twentynine Palms, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$52,380$4,365$1,222$1,572
      Renters$39,490$3,291$921$1,185
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Twentynine Palms, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Twentynine Palms, homeowners have a median income of $52,380. Using that number, a maximum of $1,222 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $39,490, which means there is a maximum of $921 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      California Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      California 7.25% 10.5%

      California Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      California 1% 12.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Twentynine Palms National avg. Difference
      Haircut $18.39$24.2624.2%
      Beauty Salon $45.42$45.560.3%
      Toothpaste $3.74$3.701.0%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.3%
      Movie $10.13$12.1316.5%
      Bowling $16.95$18.005.9%

      Groceries

      Item Twentynine Palms National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.30$5.847.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.60$1.571.4%
      Milk $4.80$4.672.7%
      Potatoes $4.66$4.935.6%
      Pizza $13.76$12.0913.8%
      Beer $10.87$10.414.4%

      Health Care

      Item Twentynine Palms National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $143.04$125.6813.8%
      Doctor $114.67$135.7815.5%
      Dentist $106.22$113.296.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.47$10.651.7%
      Lipitor $480.00$468.602.4%

      Housing

      Item Twentynine Palms National avg. Difference
      Home Price $139,400.00$184,700.0024.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,184.12$2,346.69120.9%
      Apartment Rent $975.00$949.002.7%

      Transportation

      Item Twentynine Palms National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.90$3.4612.6%
      Tire Balancing $41.98$59.9229.9%

      Utilities

      Item Twentynine Palms National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $147.65$193.9923.9%
      Phone $183.34$192.254.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Joshua Tree, CA7,7861054.8%
      Twentynine Palms, CA26,748964.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Xenia, OH26,7518910.5%
      Sanger, CA26,74411918.8%
      Chaska, MN26,75311111.3%
      Lemon Grove, CA26,73914544.9%
      Maple Valley, WA26,73914949.4%
      Twentynine Palms, CA26,748964.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.