Rent in Palm Desert, CA at a glance
2-bedroom rent (HUD)
$2,201$26,412 a year · HUD fiscal year 2026From October 1, 2026: $2,103 (−4.5%)How 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.
Rent in Palm Desert, CA by bedroom, and the pay it takes
Income needed keeps rent at 30% of gross pay; the hourly figure assumes one full-time job, 2,080 hours a year.
| Size | A month | A year | Income needed | Hourly wage needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,692 | $20,304 | $67,680 | $32.54/hr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,777 | $21,324 | $71,080 | $34.17/hr |
| 2 bedroomsMost searched | $2,201 | $26,412 | $88,040 | $42.33/hr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,912 | $34,944 | $116,480 | $56.00/hr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,514 | $42,168 | $140,560 | $67.58/hr |
Cost of living in Palm Desert, CA: income, prices and a budget →
Living and working in Palm Desert, CA
Rent in Palm Desert, CA: common questions
How much is rent going down in Palm Desert, CA in 2027?
HUD's Fair Market Rent for fiscal 2027, which takes effect October 1, 2026, is $2,103 for a two-bedroom, down 4.5% from $2,201. A one-bedroom goes from $1,777 to $1,705, a studio from $1,692 to $1,605.
These are HUD's estimates of what a typical recently rented unit costs, used for housing vouchers. A landlord's increase on your lease follows your lease and your state's rules, not this figure.
What is the average rent in Palm Desert, CA?
HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026 is $1,777 for a one-bedroom and $2,201 for a two-bedroom, utilities included. That is $26,412 a year for the two-bedroom.
It is not an average of current listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so asking rents on newer places usually run higher.
How much do you need to make to afford rent in Palm Desert, CA?
To keep a $2,201 two-bedroom at 30% of gross pay, one full-time worker needs $42.33 an hour, or $88,040 a year. A one-bedroom at $1,777 takes $34.17 an hour.
How much is a 1, 2 or 3-bedroom apartment in Palm Desert, CA?
At HUD's 2026 Fair Market Rent: studio $1,692, one bedroom $1,777, two $2,201, three $2,912 and four $3,514 a month.
Is rent affordable in Palm Desert, CA?
For the typical household, earning $77,513 a year ($6,459 a month, Census ACS), a two-bedroom at $2,201 takes 34.1% of income. Under 30% is the usual line for affordable; this is over it.
How is the income needed for rent worked out?
Rent for a year divided by 0.30, the share of gross income HUD treats as affordable: ($2,201 × 12) ÷ 0.30 = $88,040. Divided by 2,080 working hours, that is $42.33 an hour.