Are you torn between the glamour of Beverly Hills and the laid-back appeal of Palm Springs for a second home? It is a common choice, especially if you want a property that fits both your lifestyle and your long-term plans. The right answer depends on how you expect to use the home, what level of maintenance and cost feels comfortable, and whether rental flexibility matters to you. Let’s dive in.
Compare Price and Inventory
If budget is a major factor, the gap between these two markets is hard to ignore. As of May 31, 2026, Zillow lists the typical home value in Beverly Hills at $3,666,259, while Palm Springs sits at $627,703.
Recent Redfin sales data shows a similar spread. Over the last three months ending in May 2026, the median sale price was $6,114,341 in Beverly Hills and $658,606 in Palm Springs. That makes Palm Springs the easier entry point for many second-home buyers.
Inventory also tells an important story. Beverly Hills had 126 homes for sale, while Palm Springs had 971. In practical terms, that means you will likely see more options, more variety, and more accessible price points in Palm Springs.
Understand Market Pace
Both markets can move at their own pace, but neither is a pure rush market right now. Redfin reports average days on market of 51 in Beverly Hills and 67 in Palm Springs.
That extra time in Palm Springs can be helpful if you want room to compare neighborhoods, property styles, and seasonal-use options. Beverly Hills moves a bit faster, but the bigger takeaway is that buyers in both markets still need a clear strategy and realistic expectations.
Match the Home to Your Lifestyle
A second home should support the way you actually want to live. That is where Beverly Hills and Palm Springs begin to feel very different.
Beverly Hills Lifestyle
The City of Beverly Hills describes itself as a full-service city with about 35,000 residents, millions of annual visitors, and strong dining, entertainment, shopping, and cultural offerings. If you want a second home that feels polished, central, and easy to enjoy throughout the year, Beverly Hills has a strong appeal.
This setting often works well for buyers who expect frequent private use. You may want a home base close to Los Angeles business, events, dining, and everyday services without feeling like you are in a resort-only market.
Palm Springs Lifestyle
Palm Springs offers a different kind of second-home experience. The city is widely associated with boutique hotels, midcentury modern architecture, local culture, LGBTQ+ heritage, and a relaxed desert atmosphere.
If you picture weekends by the pool, mountain views, and indoor-outdoor living, Palm Springs may feel more natural. It tends to suit buyers who want a retreat mindset and a slower, more seasonal rhythm.
Compare Architecture and Design
Architecture matters more than many buyers expect, especially in a second home. The design of the home often shapes how the property feels day to day.
Beverly Hills Home Styles
Beverly Hills features a broad residential design catalog. The city highlights Spanish Mission Revival, Monterey, English Cottage, Tudor, New England or Cape Cod, and Neo-Colonial Revival styles.
That variety supports a more formal, classic-luxury look. If you are drawn to timeless architecture and a refined residential setting, Beverly Hills may be the better match.
Palm Springs Home Styles
Palm Springs is closely tied to midcentury modern design. The style is known for clean lines, flat planes, large glass windows, and strong indoor-outdoor connections.
For many second-home buyers, that design language is part of the appeal. If architecture is central to your purchase and you want a home that feels relaxed, bright, and desert-connected, Palm Springs stands out.
Think About Seasonal Use
How often you plan to use the home should shape your decision. A property that works beautifully for winter escapes may not be the best fit for full-year living.
Palm Springs is strongly seasonal. A Coachella Valley planning document notes that the winter snowbird population nearly doubles the permanent population from November through April, and the city opened cooling centers in March 2026 when temperatures reached 100 degrees or higher.
That seasonal pattern makes Palm Springs especially appealing for winter and spring use. Beverly Hills, by contrast, is generally the more straightforward option for year-round occupancy if you expect to visit often across all seasons.
Know the Short-Term Rental Rules
For many second-home buyers, this is the deciding factor. If you hope to offset costs by renting the home when you are away, the rules are very different in these two cities.
Beverly Hills Rental Rules
Beverly Hills prohibits short-term rentals citywide in single-family and multi-family units. The city requires a minimum initial lease term of 12 months, and the ban also applies to guest houses, ADUs, and outdoor areas.
If your plan is simple private ownership without a vacation-rental component, this may not be a drawback. In fact, some buyers prefer the cleaner ownership model and fewer operational questions.
Palm Springs Rental Rules
Palm Springs does allow vacation rentals and homesharing, but only under detailed city rules. Vacation rentals are allowed only as ancillary or secondary uses in single-family dwellings with a registration certificate.
The city defines a vacation rental as a stay of 28 days or less. Stays of 29 days or more fall outside that ordinance, but owners still need to understand the city’s permitting structure, neighborhood caps, annual contract limits, insurance requirements, HOA documentation, and reapplication rules when ownership changes.
For short-term rental use, Palm Springs also requires monthly transient occupancy tax payments through the city’s STR system, a minimum $500,000 liability policy, and annual certificate compliance. The certificate does not automatically transfer when a property is sold.
Compare Ownership Complexity
Some second-home buyers want a property that is easy to lock, leave, and enjoy. Others are comfortable with more moving parts if it helps offset carrying costs.
Beverly Hills is often the simpler path if you want a prestige address, frequent personal use, and no short-term rental program to manage. Your focus can stay on lifestyle, privacy, and long-term ownership.
Palm Springs can offer more flexibility, but it also asks more from you if rental income is part of the plan. You need to be comfortable with permits, compliance, tax collection, insurance standards, and city-specific operating rules.
Consider Property Taxes and Carrying Costs
California property taxes follow Proposition 13 rules, which means a change in ownership or new construction can trigger supplemental tax bills. In Los Angeles County, the county applies the general 1% levy plus debt-service and local assessments.
In Riverside County, the tax collector handles secured, unsecured, supplemental, and transient occupancy taxes. That matters if you are comparing a Beverly Hills purchase in Los Angeles County with a Palm Springs purchase in Riverside County.
The key point is simple: your monthly cost is not just the purchase price. You should also look at county tax structure, possible supplemental bills, insurance, and whether local rental rules add administrative costs.
Which Second-Home Buyer Fits Each Market?
The best choice often comes down to your priorities more than the headline price.
Beverly Hills May Fit You Better If
- You want a second home for frequent private use
- You prefer a full-service city with dining, shopping, and cultural amenities
- You are drawn to classic-luxury architecture and a more formal residential feel
- You do not need short-term rental income to make the numbers work
- You are comfortable buying in a significantly higher price range
Palm Springs May Fit You Better If
- You want a lower entry price and a broader selection of listings
- You love midcentury modern design and indoor-outdoor living
- You expect heavier use in winter and spring
- You want a possible path to offset costs through a regulated vacation-rental program
- You are comfortable following city permit, tax, and insurance requirements
How to Make the Right Call
If you are deciding between Beverly Hills and Palm Springs, start with how you will use the home in real life. A second home that sits empty most of the year needs a different strategy than one you will visit often or operate under a city-regulated rental model.
It also helps to think beyond the photos. Purchase price, architecture, seasonal comfort, rental rules, and ownership complexity all shape whether a home feels like a smart fit five years from now, not just on day one.
For buyers comparing desert living with Los Angeles luxury, this is where direct, market-specific guidance matters. Charles Estates Luxury Properties offers one-to-one support for second-home buyers who want clear advice, local insight, and a thoughtful approach to both Palm Springs and Beverly Hills.
FAQs
Is Palm Springs or Beverly Hills more affordable for a second home?
- Palm Springs is far more affordable based on current data, with a typical home value of $627,703 compared with $3,666,259 in Beverly Hills as of May 31, 2026.
Can you use a Beverly Hills second home as a short-term rental?
- No. Beverly Hills prohibits short-term rentals citywide in single-family and multi-family units and requires a minimum initial lease term of 12 months.
Can you rent out a Palm Springs second home for vacation stays?
- Yes, but only under city rules that include a registration certificate, ownership limits, neighborhood caps, contract limits, insurance requirements, and monthly transient occupancy tax compliance.
Which market is better for winter use, Palm Springs or Beverly Hills?
- Palm Springs is generally the stronger fit for winter and spring use because of its seasonal population patterns and desert-resort lifestyle.
Which market is better for year-round second-home use?
- Beverly Hills is usually the more straightforward choice for year-round use because it is a full-service urban city with broad amenities and no strong seasonal pattern.
Does architecture differ between Beverly Hills and Palm Springs homes?
- Yes. Beverly Hills is known for styles like Spanish Mission Revival, Tudor, and Cape Cod, while Palm Springs is especially known for midcentury modern homes with indoor-outdoor design.
