salaryRent is higher than in 74% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.3 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 39.9 minutes each way.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $84,920 a year. That is $41 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 261 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Palmdale?
Share of households by yearly income. 29.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Palmdale
| Size | Palmdale | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,490 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,432 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,731 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,009 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,527 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Palmdale 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 Palmdale, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Palmdale
Life in Palmdale
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Palmdale?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,145 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $471,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $47,100 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Palmdale, CA?
Renting in Palmdale costs a median of about $2,123 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Palmdale?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $84,920 a year, or $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Palmdale cheap or expensive?
Palmdale is rated OK: rent takes 28.9% of the typical household income of $88,189. It ranks 261st cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Palmdale?
The median homeowner in Palmdale pays $4,493 a year in property taxes, about 0.95% of the median home value.
Is Palmdale 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 Palmdale?
The median home value in Palmdale is $471,000, about 5.3 times the typical yearly household income.
164,634 people live in Palmdale. Numbers are typical (middle) values.