salaryRent is higher than in 78% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.5 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $90,560 a year. That is $44 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 297 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Palm Desert?
Share of households by yearly income. 33.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Palm Desert
| Size | Palm Desert | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,650 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,562 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,051 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,215 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,702 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Palm Desert overall?
Everyday prices in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area are 6% above the U.S. average (index 106.4, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in Palm Desert
Life in Palm Desert
What jobs pay in Palm Desert
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $169,920 | 16.0% |
| Physician Assistant | $165,490 | 16.4% |
| Pharmacist | $161,870 | 16.8% |
| Registered Nurse | $133,940 | 20.3% |
| Software Developer | $133,270 | 20.4% |
| Civil Engineer | $115,120 | 23.6% |
| Dental Hygienist | $105,730 | 25.7% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,030 | 25.9% |
| Operations Manager | $102,260 | 26.6% |
| Police Officer | $101,870 | 26.7% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $98,520 | 27.6% |
| Accountant | $83,920 | 32.4% |
| Firefighter | $79,160 | 34.3% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $76,970 | 35.3% |
| Electrician | $72,790 | 37.3% |
| Carpenter | $70,880 | 38.3% |
| Market Research Analyst | $69,840 | 38.9% |
| HVAC Technician | $64,300 | 42.3% |
| Plumber | $63,920 | 42.5% |
| Truck Driver | $60,580 | 44.8% |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,150 | 57.6% |
| Medical Assistant | $46,700 | 58.2% |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,430 | 58.5% |
| Warehouse Worker | $46,060 | 59.0% |
| Restaurant Cook | $42,450 | 64.0% |
| Retail Salesperson | $36,720 | 74.0% |
| Cashier | $35,700 | 76.1% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $34,800 | 78.1% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Palm Desert?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,497 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $542,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $54,200 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Palm Desert, CA?
Renting in Palm Desert costs a median of about $2,264 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Palm Desert?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $90,560 a year, or $44 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Palm Desert cheap or expensive?
Palm Desert is rated Expensive: rent takes 32.5% of the typical household income of $83,598. It ranks 297th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Palm Desert?
The median homeowner in Palm Desert pays $4,660 a year in property taxes, about 0.86% of the median home value.
Is Palm Desert more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Palm Desert?
The median home value in Palm Desert is $542,000, about 6.5 times the typical yearly household income.
51,990 people live in Palm Desert. Numbers are typical (middle) values.