salaryRent is higher than in 83% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.7 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 $95,760 a year. That is $46 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of California. It is number 343 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Palm Springs?
Share of households by yearly income. 30.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Palm Springs
| Size | Palm Springs | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,420 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,425 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,839 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,091 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,525 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Palm Springs overall?
Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Palm Springs, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Palm Springs
Life in Palm Springs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Palm Springs?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,797 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $604,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $60,400 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Palm Springs, CA?
Renting in Palm Springs costs a median of about $2,394 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Palm Springs?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $95,760 a year, or $46 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Palm Springs cheap or expensive?
Palm Springs is rated Expensive: rent takes 36.4% of the typical household income of $78,859. It ranks 343rd cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Palm Springs?
The median homeowner in Palm Springs pays $4,482 a year in property taxes, about 0.74% of the median home value.
Is Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs?
The median home value in Palm Springs is $604,000, about 7.7 times the typical yearly household income.
45,070 people live in Palm Springs. Numbers are typical (middle) values.