Median rent is 3% lower in Palm Desert ($1,717/mo vs $1,779/mo). Buying is cheaper in Palm Desert, where the median home runs $491,600 versus $751,700. Households earn more in New York ($79,713 vs $79,508 a year).
City A
New York, NY
City B
Palm Desert, CA
How much would you need to earn in Palm Desert, CA to maintain your standard of living from New York, NY?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
New York
New York
Palm Desert
California
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,779/mo in New York and $1,717/mo in Palm Desert. Home buyers face a steeper market in New York: the median home is $751,700 versus $491,600 in Palm Desert — 35% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% versus 13.30% in California, so New York is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 4.00% in New York and 7.25% in California; New York has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
New York
Income tax: 10.90%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Palm Desert
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Air quality data is available for New York (avg AQI 61.0) but not yet for Palm Desert.
Pick New York if you prioritize lower state income tax (10.90%).
Is New York cheaper than Palm Desert?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in New York vs Palm Desert?
Median rent is $1,779/mo in New York, NY and $1,717/mo in Palm Desert, CA. Palm Desert, CA has the lower rent by about 3%.
Which has higher salaries — New York or Palm Desert?
Median household income is $79,713 in New York, NY and $79,508 in Palm Desert, CA. New York, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — New York or Palm Desert?
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% and California's is 13.30%. New York, NY has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Palm Desert to match my New York income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology