Food and Drink
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Arenas Road (LGBTQ+ bars and high energy)
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Date Shake (Shields Date Garden nearby)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Chef Tanya's Kitchen (706 S Eugene Rd)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Great Shakes (160 S Palm Canyon Dr)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Grocery Outlet Bargain Market (350 S Palm Canyon Dr)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day/Prime delivery available)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart (serving Whole Foods and Ralphs)
- Local Brewery
- Palm Springs Brewing Co. (5051 E Ramon Rd)
- Wine Bars
- Dead or Alive (647 E Sunny Dunes Rd)
- Street Food Stalls
- VillageFest (Every Thursday night on Palm Canyon Drive)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Rooster and the Pig (Vietnamese, 356 S Indian Canyon Dr)
Essentials
- City
- Palm Springs, Riverside County, California, United States
- Population
- 45,000 (increases significantly during peak winter season)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps; Spectrum and Frontier Fiber are primary providers
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). 1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR. Major banks include Chase and Wells Fargo
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe, though high mineral content (hard water)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon. eSIMs via Airalo or Holafly are recommended for short stays
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Wise, and Mercury (for business) are widely used
- Accommodation
- High-end luxury rentals ($4k+/mo) and mid-century modern airbnbs
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Apple Pay and Credit Cards are accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, and local agencies like McLean Company
- Budget Accommodation
- Crashpod Hostel (approx. $55/night) or basic motels like Motel 6 Downtown
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown Palm Springs (walkable to Palm Canyon Drive)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Warm Sands or Movie Colony (quiet, residential, central)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Flannery Exchange ($35 day pass, 750 N Palm Canyon Dr)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Koffi North End (515 N Palm Canyon Dr) - Great patio and reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce 'Evening Mixers'
- Social Events for Expats
- Meetup.com groups like 'Palm Springs Tech & Creatives'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft (widely available 24/7)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bike Palm Springs ($35/day, 194 S Indian Canyon Dr)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Newport Beach (approx. 1 hour 45 mins drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Alaska Airlines (heavy presence at PSP)
- Top International Airline
- United Airlines or American Airlines (via LAX or PHX)
- Highway Access
- Interstate 10 (I-10) connects to Los Angeles and Phoenix
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Palm Springs Station (Amtrak Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle)
- Public Transport Passes
- SunLine Transit Agency ($3 day pass via Haul Pass app)
- Regional Travel
- FlixBus to Los Angeles (approx. $25)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Desert Regional Medical Center (1150 N Indian Canyon Dr)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Power Yoga Palm Springs ($25 drop-in, 333 N Palm Canyon Dr)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- EOS Fitness ($25/mo, 201 N Palm Canyon Dr)
- Laundry Services
- Palm Springs Laundromat (Self-service and fluff-and-fold, 740 S Palm Canyon Dr)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ($30+)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Palm Springs Art Museum (Free Thursday nights)
- Historical Sites
- Sunnylands Center & Gardens (Rancho Mirage)
- Religious Sites
- Our Lady of Solitude (151 W Alejo Rd)
- Annual Events
- Modernism Week (February) and Coachella (April in nearby Indio)
- Cultural Districts
- Uptown Design District
- Theater Venues
- Annenberg Theater (Inside the Art Museum)
- Local Markets
- Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market (Saturdays)
- Music Scene
- The Alibi Palm Springs (Live indie music)
- Street Art
- Palm Springs 'Colette Miller Wings' Mural
- Cooking Classes
- Cooking with Class (La Quinta, nearby)
- Art Galleries
- Elena Bulatova Fine Art
- Historic Buildings
- Kaufmann Desert House (Richard Neutra design)
- Local Heritage
- Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Cultural Center
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Indian Canyons (Hiking trails, $12 entry)
- National Parks Nearby
- Joshua Tree National Park (50 mins drive, $30 per vehicle)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tahquitz Canyon Trail
- Scenic Viewpoints
- San Jacinto Peak (via Aerial Tramway)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Whitewater Preserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Joshua Tree dispersed camping areas (Rules apply)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store (1717 E Vista Chino)
- Tech Repair Services
- uBreakiFix (Near Sunrise Way)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Palm Springs Pavilion (Community Center)
- Language Classes
- College of the Desert (ESL and Spanish courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Palm Springs Public Library (300 S Sunrise Way)
- Community Centers
- James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center
- Gaming Lounges
- PS Air (Speakeasy with high-tech theme)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $360,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $270,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $464,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $336,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% Federal + 8.84% California State
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for residents; 30% for non-resident aliens
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US Citizens; Residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% Federal + 13.3% California State
- VAT
- Sales Tax (Palm Springs): 9.25%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Approx. 1.25% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Documentary Transfer Tax (approx. $1.10 per $1,000)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; high tax burden compared to international hubs