Studio Apartment Rent in Palm Springs, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Palm Springs, California as of August 2026. That's +14% lower than the citywide median of $2,069 and +38% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Palm Springs
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Palm Springs
Compare Palm Springs's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $864 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $915 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Fortuna | $990 |
| 14 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 15 | Porterville | $1,050 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 13 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 14 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
| 15 | Saratoga | $2,910 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Palm Springs.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Palm Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral City, CA | 5.1 mi | $1,660 | $-125 (-7%) |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 7.1 mi | $1,850 | +$65 (+4%) |
| Desert Hot Springs, CA | 11.6 mi | $1,370 | $-415 (-23%) |
| Palm Desert, CA | 11.7 mi | $1,865 | +$80 (+4%) |
| La Quinta, CA | 20.4 mi | $1,880 | +$95 (+5%) |
| Indio, CA | 21.4 mi | $1,715 | $-70 (-4%) |
| Banning, CA | 23.6 mi | $1,490 | $-295 (-17%) |
| San Jacinto, CA | 27.7 mi | $1,480 | $-305 (-17%) |
| Yucca Valley, CA | 28.5 mi | $1,370 | $-415 (-23%) |
| Hemet, CA | 30.7 mi | $1,557 | $-228 (-13%) |
| Joshua Tree, CA | 31.3 mi | $1,370 | $-415 (-23%) |
| Beaumont, CA | 33.4 mi | $1,620 | $-165 (-9%) |
Studio rent in Palm Springs — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Palm Springs?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Palm Springs, California is $1,785 per month. This is +14% below the citywide median of $2,069.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Palm Springs?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $71,400 ($5,950/month gross), which works out to roughly $34.33/hour at a full-time job.
Is Palm Springs expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Palm Springs's studio median of $1,785 is +38% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 80th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Palm Springs rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 378 cities in California with studio data, Palm Springs ranks #133 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Palm Springs?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Cathedral City ($1,660), Desert Hot Springs ($1,370), Indio ($1,715).