Cost of Living in Palm Springs, California, United States

Are you considering a move to Palm Springs, California, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? Palm Springs, California is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Palm Springs, California and help you understand whether $4033 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $3979.17.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Palm Springs, California, United States
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

20.0 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

75.0 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

12.0 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

5.0 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

8.0 $

Cappuccino (regular)

5.08 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

2.57 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

1.5 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.35 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

4.35 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

2.2 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

4.07 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

15.98 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

14.88 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

16.53 $

Apples (1 lb)

7.27 $

Banana (1 lb)

2.32 $

Oranges (1 lb)

7.99 $

Tomato (1 lb)

6.67 $

Potato (1 lb)

2.93 $

Onion (1 lb)

5.43 $

Lettuce (1 head)

2.67 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

2.12 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

12.99 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.65 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.35 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

12.5 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

1.0 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

24.0 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

3.0 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

1.37 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

15.0 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.28 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

23000.0 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

28000.0 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

390.93 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

--

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

88.28 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

43.33 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

25.0 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

16.0 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

1200.0 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

19500.0 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

61.83 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

41.25 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

109.17 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

164.17 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

1740.0 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

1488.75 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

3350.0 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

2733.33 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

4628.48 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

2518.76 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

3979.17 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

6.47 %

Cost of Living in Palm Springs, California, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the monthly cost of living in Palm Springs, California?

The monthly expenses for living in Palm Springs, California come to a total of approximately $4033. This includes an average monthly rent of around $1740 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $435 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $1144 per month.

How affordable is living in Palm Springs, California?

Living in Palm Springs, California appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $3979.17. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Palm Springs, California, you would likely need an income exceeding $3979.17.

What is the average salary in Palm Springs, California?

In Palm Springs, California, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $3979.17, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.

What is the average rent in Palm Springs, California?

The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Palm Springs, California is approximately $1740. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $1488.75 for such an apartment.

What is the cost of groceries in Palm Springs, California?

The expense for groceries in Palm Springs, California can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $978 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.

What is the cost of living in United States?

The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.

Palm Springs, California, United States

How Safe Is Palm Springs, California, United States for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Palm Springs, California, United States

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

This is a tough one. The crime data shows it's about 1.5 times more dangerous than the average U.S. city, but there's such a great posh vibe that makes you feel comfortable. There's a gang problem in parts of the Coachella Valley, where Palm Springs is located, but the average tourist isn't impacted by it. The weather can be beautiful or it can be brutally hot. We'll go with a medium risk just to keep you from getting too relaxed in this desert getaway.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk as all rides are carefully regulated by the city and the state. The city is very walkable in the downtown area but some of the sites, like the tramway, will require you to leave the city limits. Even just being 6 miles away, with the desert sun, you'll want to catch a ride (and there isn't a shuttle service to and from).

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

There's a 1 in 42 chance of being a victim of theft based on population vs. the number of thefts reported in 2020. However, the population triples during snowbird season and more than a million visitors come to Palm Springs each year, so factoring in those numbers, there's an exponentially lower risk. Still, let's stick with a medium risk, as tourists are easy targets.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Oppressive heat, earthquakes, wildfires, flash flooding, and strong winds are just a few reasons this area has a medium risk for natural disasters. That said, there are more than 350 days of sunshine a year (nope, not a typo). On an average day, there's going to be a low risk, but when disasters get bad here they go from bad to worse fast.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's a 1 in 755 chance of being a robbery victim here. Again, that's a number retrieved by doing the math of the population vs. crime rate. It's going to get exponentially lower considering seasonal residents and tourists. Even at the basic level, it's much lower than the theft rate, so we're going to call this a low risk.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There's not much of a terrorist draw in Palm Springs, so there's a low risk. Outside of Palm Springs, there's just a lot of desert until you get to Los Angeles about two hours west and Phoenix about 5 hours east.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There is a 30% elderly population just based on the census, and that number can triple when snowbird season starts, so we want to give this a medium risk because seniors are prime targets for scammers. On top of that, Palm Springs is a posh community and there's a lot of money to potentially be swindled out of people. Check the Palm Springs Police Department website before you come to see any trending scams.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk for women here. 40% of the residents in town are female and it's one of the largest lesbian communities in the country per capita. Women should take traditional precautions, like not taking a drink from a stranger and using the buddy system when walking home after a night at the bar or on a hike.

TAP WATER RISK: HIGH

Ewww. That's the risk level of tap water in Palm Springs from this writer's perspective. First things first, it meets state and federal requirements and any deviation from those requirements will mean a warning gets issued. But, and it's a big BUT, the Coachella Valley Water District lists some of the challenges you might find in tap water, like being warm (because it's so dang hot in Palm Springs), murky, particle-ridden, or stinky. CVWD explains why all these issues happen, but it would catch me off guard as a tourist, so I'm sure it would catch you off guard too. That's giving it a high risk just from shock value alone. Thank goodness you read this article, eh?

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Palm Springs has no separate Visa requirements from the United States as a whole, so once you're set at the airport you are free to travel to and from this desert oasis. Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico, are both about 3:00 from Palm Springs, so if you get the urge for a day trip, make sure you bring your international travel identification of choice.

currency_exchange

Currency

You'll only use the U.S. Dollar currency in and around Palm Springs. There is a currency exchange at the airport and several locations in town.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Palm Springs gets very hot in the summer. It's a "dry heat", yes, but it is still averaging above 100°(F) from June to September. The coldest winters usually don't drop below the mid-40s and only three times in history has this area gotten below freezing. You'll want a jacket in the winter but chances are you won't wear it much.

flight_takeoff

Airports

The Palm Springs Airport is smack dab in the center of the city and serves more than two million passengers yearly. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 2:30 west and San Diego's airport (SAN) is 2:30-3:00 southwest.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a great idea for a trip to Palm Springs. This vibrant, unique community is worth seeing and you don't want a weather or wildfire travel delay to ruin your trip.

Palm Springs, California, United States

What about weather in Palm Springs, California, United States ?
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 70°F 73°F 79°F 86°F 93°F 102°F 106°F 105°F 100°F 89°F 77°F 69°F
Temp 58°F 61°F 66°F 72°F 79°F 87°F 93°F 92°F 87°F 76°F 65°F 56°F
Low 47°F 50°F 54°F 59°F 66°F 72°F 78°F 79°F 73°F 64°F 54°F 46°F
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 21°C 22°C 26°C 30°C 33°C 38°C 41°C 40°C 37°C 31°C 25°C 20°C
Temp 14°C 16°C 18°C 22°C 26°C 30°C 33°C 33°C 30°C 24°C 18°C 13°C
Low 8°C 10°C 12°C 15°C 18°C 22°C 25°C 26°C 22°C 17°C 12°C 7°C

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