Rents are 12% below what La Quinta's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,617 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
June. Asking rents in La Quinta usually run 2.9% below trend in June and 1.8% above it in November, about $170 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in La Quinta is 1.1% below its high of $3,658 in August 2026, at $3,617 as of September 2026.
Rent in La Quinta changed +3.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in La Quinta rose 62.7% while median household income rose 27.5% ($77,839 to $99,250). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in La Quinta is 76.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($99,250) is $2,481 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,440); a 3-bedroom is $3,260.
Indio, 7 miles away, rents for 36% less ($2,316/mo), about $15,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for La Quinta. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
La Quinta, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 40% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How La Quinta, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in La Quinta, CA has increased 42.8% since 2021, going from about $2,533 per month to roughly $3,617 today. Census figures show median household income at $99,250 today, compared with $83,412 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 23.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 37,846 to 38,707 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.3% change. About 24.3% of households rent today, against 27.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 35% to 40%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about La Quinta
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in La Quinta on your salary?
At $3,617/mo, how La Quinta rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
La Quinta rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in La Quinta. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in La Quinta
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in La Quinta is $3,617/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,880/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,440/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,960/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,260/mo.
At 44% of local median household income ($99,250/yr), La Quinta ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in La Quinta?
Is rent going up or down in La Quinta?
When is the cheapest time to rent in La Quinta?
Has rent outpaced income in La Quinta?
How does La Quinta rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than La Quinta?
At $3,617/mo, rent takes ~44% of La Quinta's median household income ($99,250/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for La Quinta.
No discussions yet.