2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Palm Springs, CA vs San Rafael, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Rafael or is it cheaper to live in Palm Springs?
- San Rafael is 75.4% more expensive than Palm Springs.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Rafael or Palm Springs?
- San Rafael housing costs are 139.5% more expensive than Palm Springs housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Palm Springs or is Health Care more affordable in San Rafael.
- Health related expenses are 26.1% more in San Rafael.
 Palm Springs, CASan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock230.1100
 Food & Groceries100.1  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.1100
 Housing185.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,209,300$338,100
 Utilities114  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock118.7100
 Miscellaneous112.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Palm Springs    12 Reviews

I lived in Palm Springs for 12 years and initially it appeared to be quite beautiful. The mountains are beautiful and palm trees, very stress-free and manageable.  More

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Over 5 years ago

14 years is plenty long enough. This is a nice place to visit, not live. In the last 20 years the air quality, especially in the summer has deteriorated considerably.  More

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Ghetto Crime City with lots of glitz... Police do nothing. Called 911 three times in a year: twice, no response. Provided the license plate of the criminals in two  More

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Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

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Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

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Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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