Rents are 17% below what Palm Desert'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 $2,615 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Palm Desert, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 40.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Palm Desert, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Palm Desert, CA has shifted from $1,894 to $2,615, up 38.1% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $67,514 to $77,513 across the same window, up 14.8% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Palm Desert, CA adding about 909 residents over the five-year window, up 1.8% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 38.7% to 40.7% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Palm Desert, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Palm Desert on your salary?
At $2,615/mo, how Palm Desert rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Palm Desert rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Palm Desert. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Palm Desert
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Palm Desert is $2,615/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,865/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,420/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,945/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,230/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($77,513/yr), Palm Desert ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm Desert an affordable city for renters?
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Which Palm Desert neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Palm Desert rent compare to other cities in California?
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What percentage of Palm Desert residents rent vs. own?
How does Palm Desert rent compare to the national average?
At $2,615/mo, rent takes ~40% of Palm Desert's median household income ($77,513/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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