Palm Desert, CA at a glance
Median household income
$77,513$6,459 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Palm Desert, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Palm Desert, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,692 | $20,304 | $67,680 | 26.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,777 | $21,324 | $71,080 | 27.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,201 | $26,412 | $88,040 | 34.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,912 | $34,944 | $116,480 | 45.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,514 | $42,168 | $140,560 | 54.4% |
What a typical income covers in Palm Desert, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $77,513 a year ($6,459 a month before tax).
What $77,513 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in Palm Desert, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Palm Desert, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Palm Desert, CA is $77,513 per year (approximately $6,459 per month).
What is the average rent in Palm Desert, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,692 for a studio, $1,777 for one bedroom, $2,201 for two, $2,912 for three and $3,514 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Palm Desert, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 6.4% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 106.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Palm Desert, CA?
To keep a $2,201 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $88,040 a year, or $7,337 a month. That is 114% of what the typical household in Palm Desert, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Palm Desert, CA?
On the local median income of $77,513 ($6,459 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,230 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,938 for everything else and $1,292 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,201 takes 68% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Palm Desert, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.