Cost of Living in Palmdale, CA | Flyhomes (2024)

Are you planning a move to Palmdale, CA and wondering if it is an expensive place to live in? We’ll break down the cost of living in Palmdale by answering the following key questions - what is expected cost of living Palmdale, what is the median income in Palmdale, what is a good livable salary in Palmdale, and what are the average rent and home prices in Palmdale.

Is Palmdale expensive to live in?

Palmdale is part of Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale Metro Div. metro area, which is ranked 6 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. According to C2ER (the Council for Community and Economic Research), the cost of living in Palmdale is estimated to be 149.1% of the national average making it one of the more expensive cities in the US.

Total monthly expenditure you can expect to incur depends on the cost of housing, food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, other miscellaneous goods and services. Note that your household composition (single or married, number of kids) and home ownership status (renting vs. owning) might affect your monthly expenses.

Palmdale, CA is ranked

6/273 cities in the US

estimated to be 149.1% of the national average making it one of the more expensive cities in the US

See our Palmdale City Guide

How do Palmdale prices compare to other US cities?

Palmdale is ranked 6 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. The cost of living in Palmdale is 149.1% of the national average.

Compare Palmdale to:

U.S. Average

CategoryPalmdaleU.S. Average
Milk (1/2 gal)$4.83
(+3.8%)
$4.65
Bread$4.04
(+3.54%)
$3.9
Hamburger$6.15
(+12.92%)
$5.36
Large Pizza$13.49
(+10.73%)
$12.04
Chicken (2 pcs)$5.38
(+8.54%)
$4.92
Doctor Visit$134
(+1.84%)
$131.54
Dentist Visit$131.5
(+13.57%)
$113.65
Rent$3,248.4
(+54.75%)
$1,470.04
Mortgage$5,521.98
(+58.64%)
$2,283.8
Gas$4.48
(+25.18%)
$3.35
Energy Bill$233.08
(+17.2%)
$192.98

Cost of Living compared to national average

49% higher

Housing prices compared to national average

135% higher

Houses for Sale in Palmdale

Cost of Living Calculator for Palmdale

Get an estimate of income required to live comfortably in Palmdale. Our cost of living calculator will give you an estimate of your expected expenditures on food, utilities, transportation, housing, healthcare, and more. Simply pick your marital status and family type from the drop-down. The calculator will give you a breakdown of your monthly spends on food, utilities, transportation, housing, healthcare, and other miscellaneous items to help you determine your cost of living in Palmdale. Try it now.

Marital Status

Married

Family Type

Married with Children

Your required pre-tax income

$0

Your required post-tax income

$0

CategoryExpenditure
Food$0
Utilities$0
Transportation$0
Healthcare$0
Housing (Rent / Mortgage)$0
Other Housing$0
Miscllaneous$0
Total Annual Expenditure$0

What is a livable salary in Palmdale?

The median household income in a city certainly helps gauge the cost of living. The median household income in Palmdale is $70,858, which is 15% less than that of the state. The median income for an individual is $34,573, which is 15% less than that of the state.

The minimum salary you need to live in Palmdale is the sum of your daily expenses (groceries, utilities, transportation, entertainment), your monthly housing-related costs (rent, mortgage, insurance, maintenance), any debt expenses (monthly interest payments and principal paydowns), as well as your savings and investment goals.

A good rule of thumb for housing affordability is the 28% rule: your monthly rent or the sum of your monthly mortgage, property taxes, and insurance should not exceed 28% of your gross income (income before tax).

Understanding the expected costs in Palmdale can help you determine whether a given salary is a livable salary. For instance, if you know the typical housing costs in Palmdale, you can use widely followed simple rules to determine if you can afford it on your salary. A good rule of thumb for housing affordability is the 28% rule: your monthly rent or the sum of your monthly mortgage, property taxes, and insurance should not exceed 28% of your gross income (income before tax). Another good rule of thumb is the 50-30-20 rule which says 50% of the net income (income after tax) should be spent on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings and investments. So plan to ensure that your net income covers your needs and wants, so that you can live comfortably in Palmdale, CA.

Median Household Income

$70,858

Median Individual Income

$34,573

What is the average rent in Palmdale?

Housing is generally the biggest monthly cost that you would need to account for. The average rent in Palmdale (located in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale Metro Div.) metro area for a 2-bed home is $3,248, which is 120% more than the average rent across the US. However, this average takes into account both metro and suburban areas. So, the costs may go up or down depending on which neighborhood you eventually decide to stay.

Rent compared to national average

120% more

What is the median home price in Palmdale?

The median home price in Palmdale is $550,000 with a median price per sqft of $275.

The cost of living index for housing estimates the cost of housing in Palmdale to be 235.2% of the national average. This makes it one of the most expensive cities in the US.

Median Home Price

550K

Median Price/Sqft

$275

Average Rent

$3,248

Housing Index

235.2%

What is a cost of living calculator?

A cost of living calculator helps you to assess how much you will need to make in order to live comfortably in a specific city. It takes into account various expenses that you will make in your daily lives (on housing, food, utilities, transportation, entertainment, etc.) and helps you determine a livable salary. The prices of goods and services vary in different cities, and hence having a cost of living index or calculator can make the decision to move easier by allowing you to directly compare one city with another.

About the cost of living data

  1. To calculate the cost of living, data has been taken from C2ER (Council for Community and Economic Research)
  2. The Cost of Living Index takes into account the data from 273 cities across the US
  3. The Cost of Living Index and hence, the ranking reflects cost differentials for professional households in the top income quintile

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Cost of Living in Palmdale, CA | Flyhomes (1)

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Cost of Living in Palmdale, CA | Flyhomes (2024)

FAQs

Cost of Living in Palmdale, CA | Flyhomes? ›

The median home price in Palmdale is $539,999 with a median price per sqft of $270. The cost of living index for housing estimates the cost of housing in Palmdale to be 235.2% of the national average. This makes it one of the most expensive cities in the US.

What is the household income in Palmdale California? ›

About. In 2022, Palmdale, CA had a population of 167k people with a median age of 33 and a median household income of $78,414.

What is the average electric bill in Palmdale CA? ›

Monthly electric bills are a product of how much electricity you use per month and your electric rate. In Palmdale, CA, the average monthly electric bill for residential customers is $210/month, which is calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate: 796 kWh * 26 ¢/kWh.

Is Palmdale good to live? ›

Palmdale is suburbia perfect for those looking for that middle-class vibe without the exorbitant prices. It is a city working on itself with new properties bringing in growing families.

How much does it cost to live comfortably in California? ›

Overall, SmartAsset found that to live comfortably in any major city, you need to make about $96,500 annually, up immensely from the nearly $68,500 it estimated last year. A family of four would need to make much more at $235,000 to avoid living paycheck to paycheck. You can view SmartAsset's full list here.

Is it expensive to live in Palmdale? ›

The median home price in Palmdale is $555,000 with a median price per sqft of $282. The cost of living index for housing estimates the cost of housing in Palmdale to be 235.2% of the national average. This makes it one of the most expensive cities in the US.

Is Palmdale middle class? ›

Annual Population

Palmdale is an upper-middle class community with an average household income of $73,482 in 2017.

Why do people move to Palmdale? ›

The pressure to afford living in greater Los Angeles causes many to relocate outside of Los Angeles (city) to more affordable neighboring cities like Palmdale and Lancaster in the Antelope Valley. Life in Palmdale promises affordable housing for families, a slower pace of life, and stunning desert views.

What is the nicest part of Palmdale? ›

What are the best neighborhoods in Palmdale? Some of the best neighborhoods in or around Palmdale, California are Rancho Vista, Anaverde and Antelope Valley Country Club Estates. Consider buying or renting a home in one of these popular neighborhoods. Is this area right for me?

Is $20 an hour enough to live in California? ›

If we look at an adult with one child, the MIT living wage calculator is about $45 an hour, so even this $20 per hour is far below what MIT suggests for a living wage," Leigh said. MIT's living wage calculator considers expenses for a living wage to cover basic needs, such as food, health care and housing.

Is $27 an hour good in California? ›

SmartAsset says a single working adult must earn at least $114,000, or about $55 an hour, to support themselves in the Golden State. When it comes to a basic “living wage,” MIT says a single adult in California needs to earn $27.32 per hour or $56,800 per year.

Is $30 an hour good in California? ›

Meanwhile, a single working adult should bring in at least $30 an hour, or an annual income of $61,400, to comfortably live alone in the county.

What is the rich part of Palmdale? ›

Explore Palmdale, CA

Hillside has a median listing home price of $749.5K, making it the most expensive neighborhood. Joshua Hills is the most affordable neighborhood, with a median listing home price of $450K.

What household income is considered rich in California? ›

How rich is rich in California? As of 2022, the top 5% of earners in the state made $613,602 a year on average, according to a recent analysis from personal finance site GoBankingRates. That's roughly a 37% increase from 2017, when top earners raked in an average annual income of $447,207.

What is the average income in the Antelope Valley? ›

What are the median and average incomes in Northeast Antelope Valley?
Y-o-Y Change
Average Household Income$57,20517.7%
Median Household Income$58,56419.0%
People below Poverty Level15,860-15.0%
People above Poverty Level65,8335.8%

What is the average household income for California? ›

The following data are the most current income statistics for California from the US Census Bureau, are in 2022 inflation adjusted dollars and are from the American Community Survey 2022 5-year estimates. Median Household Income: $91,905. Average Household Income: $130,718. Per Capita Income: $45,591.

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