Coachella, CA vs Cathedral City, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Cathedral City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% higher than Coachella, CA.

Coachella, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,080 / month
Cathedral City, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,140 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Coachella, CA and Cathedral City, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Coachella, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $17.53/month in Cathedral City, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,210 in Cathedral City, CA

Regional cost estimates: Coachella, CA uses San Bernardino, CA. Cathedral City, CA uses San Bernardino, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$17.53

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$210

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Coachella, CA

Population:44K

Cost Index:

105.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$425K

Cathedral City, CA

Population:52K

Cost Index:

105.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$477K

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Coachella, CA

The Golden State

44K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 44K residents.

Cathedral City, CA

The Golden State

52K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 52K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Coachella, CA vs Cathedral City, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Coachella, CA	Cathedral City, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,329/mo	$2,335/mo	↑ $6.22more	0.3%
Transportation	$1,869/mo	$1,874/mo	↑ $4.99more	0.3%
Other	$1,421/mo	$1,424/mo	↑ $3.80more	0.3%
Groceries	$910/mo	$912/mo	↑ $1.22more	0.1%
All Utilities	$488/mo	$489/mo	↑ $0.65more	0.1%
Healthcare	$483/mo	$484/mo	↑ $0.64more	0.1%

Housing

↑ 0.3%

Coachella, CA

$2,329

Cathedral City, CA

$2,335

Difference

$6.22

Transportation

↑ 0.3%

Coachella, CA

$1,869

Cathedral City, CA

$1,874

Difference

$4.99

Other

↑ 0.3%

Coachella, CA

$1,421

Cathedral City, CA

$1,424

Difference

$3.80

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Coachella, CA

$910

Cathedral City, CA

$912

Difference

$1.22

All Utilities

↑ 0.1%

Coachella, CA

$488

Cathedral City, CA

$489

Difference

$0.65

Healthcare

↑ 0.1%

Coachella, CA

$483

Cathedral City, CA

$484

Difference

$0.64

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,600

To$1,650

↑ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,670

To$1,730

↑ $60.00

2 Bed

From$2,080

To$2,140

↑ $60.00

3 Bed

From$2,780

To$2,830

↑ $50.00

Coachella, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,670–$1,670/mo

Cathedral City, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,730–$1,730/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Coachella, CA

$7,518

Monthly in Cathedral City, CA

$17.53

Difference

Home Values

Coachella

Cathedral City

$425K

Median Value

$477K

↓ -0.8%

YoY Change

↓ -4.9%

↑ +43.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +30.9%

Homes in Cathedral City are 12% more expensive than Coachella

Calculate payment - Coachella Calculate payment - Cathedral City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Coachella, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Cathedral City, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Coachella, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Cathedral City, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Coachella

Cathedral City

87 Moderate

Air Quality

87 Moderate

10.9%

Good Air Days

10.9%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

100 days

Heat Days >95°F

100 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

100 days

Heat Days >95°F

100 days

Before moving from Coachella, CA to Cathedral City, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Cathedral City, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Coachella, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Coachella to Cathedral City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Cathedral City, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Coachella, CA vs Cathedral City, CA

How do the cost estimates for Coachella, CA and Cathedral City, CA compare?

Cathedral City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% higher than Coachella, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Coachella, CA, the model estimates $150,210 in Cathedral City, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Coachella, CA and Cathedral City, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,080/month in Coachella, CA and $2,140/month in Cathedral City, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.