States › California › Joshua Tree

Is Joshua Tree, CA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,32125% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$71,495about $5,958/month · 18% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$334,200same as U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 68% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.7 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $52,840 a year. That is $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other California cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 52 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Joshua Tree
$1,321
Pollock Pines
$2,010
Willows
$1,312
Lemoore Station
$2,187
Oak View
$2,408
Gustine
$1,479
Hilmar-Irwin
$1,629

How much do households earn in Joshua Tree?

Under $25k
25.3%
$25k–50k
16.6%
$50k–100k
31.2%
$100k–150k
15.2%
$150k+
5.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 20.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Joshua Tree

SizeJoshua TreeU.S. average
Studio$824$1,338
1 bedroom$973$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,726$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,775$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Joshua Tree overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Joshua Tree, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Joshua Tree

🏛️ Property tax$1,993a year · 0.60% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$138a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Joshua Tree

Commute to work30 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree27%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home65.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line22.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Joshua Tree?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $998 a month less.

Renting
$1,321
Owning
$2,319

Owning assumes a typical $334,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $33,420 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Joshua Tree, CA?

Renting in Joshua Tree costs a median of about $1,321 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Joshua Tree?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $52,840 a year, or $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Joshua Tree cheap or expensive?

Joshua Tree is rated OK: rent takes 22.2% of the typical household income of $71,495. It ranks 52nd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Joshua Tree?

The median homeowner in Joshua Tree pays $1,993 a year in property taxes, about 0.60% of the median home value.

Is Joshua Tree more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Joshua Tree?

The median home value in Joshua Tree is $334,200, about 4.7 times the typical yearly household income.

6,234 people live in Joshua Tree. Numbers are typical (middle) values.