| Index | Palm Springs | California | National |
| Cost of living | 138 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 194 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 121 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Palm Springs? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Palm Springs stands at 138, making it 38% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Palm Springs is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Palm Springs falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Palm Springs cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 94.2%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 20 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Palm Springs and this is how they responded. 45% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 55% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Palm Springs affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Palm Springs, for instance, where the median home price falls 123.7% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 25.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Palm Springs flaunting a median household income of $87,399, 7.5% higher than the national norm.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Palm Springs, healthcare costs are 12.8% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Palm Springs comes in at 13.5% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Palm Springs, the groceries index is 7.6% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Palm Springs shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $112,724 | $9,394 | $2,630 | $3,382 |
| Renters | $57,474 | $4,790 | $1,341 | $1,724 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mountain Center, CA | 17 | 113 | 13.3% |
| Desert Edge, CA | 3,594 | 93 | 6.6% |
| Sky Valley, CA | 2,328 | 103 | 3.0% |
| Morongo Valley, CA | 3,239 | 109 | 8.6% |
| Cabazon, CA | 2,360 | 111 | 10.9% |
| Palm Springs, CA | 49,537 | 138 | 37.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Rimouski, QC | 49,516 | n/a | |
| Ceres, CA | 49,472 | 125 | 25.4% |
| Jeffersonville, IN | 49,450 | 93 | 7.0% |
| Wauwatosa, WI | 49,450 | 108 | 7.5% |
| Niagara Falls, NY | 49,651 | 92 | 7.8% |
| Palm Springs, CA | 49,537 | 138 | 37.6% |
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