What is the cost of living in Santa Fe, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Santa Fe has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Santa Fe has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Santa Fe ranks as #40 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Santa Fe ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Santa Fe, check out:
Santa Fe Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Santa Fe. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Santa Fe is 96.
The Groceries index in Santa Fe is 97.
The Health index in Santa Fe is 143.
The Housing index in Santa Fe is 93.
The Transportation index in Santa Fe is 99.
The Utilities index in Santa Fe is 99.
| Living Expense | Santa Fe | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 143 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 94 | 100 |
Santa Fe Cost Of Living Compared To New Mexico Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Mexico, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Santa Fe Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Santa Fe, NM Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Mexico, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Santa Fe is $580,021.
The Median Rent in Santa Fe is $1,463.
The Median Income in Santa Fe is $73,482.
The Home Value To Income in Santa Fe is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Santa Fe is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Santa Fe | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $580,021 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,463 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,482 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Santa Fe, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Santa Fe Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Santa Fe | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.15 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.54 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.89 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.9 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $50.83 | $45.56 |
Detailed Santa Fe Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Santa Fe | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.11 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.32 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.42 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.07 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Santa Fe Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Santa Fe | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.17 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $111.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed Santa Fe Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Santa Fe | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $43.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Santa Fe Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Santa Fe | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.51 | $192.25 |
Santa Fe SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Santa Fe
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Santa Fe. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rio Rancho, NM has a cost of living index of 100, 0.9x Santa Fe.
Los Alamos, NM has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Santa Fe.
North Valley, NM has a cost of living index of 99, 0.9x Santa Fe.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Santa Fe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho, NM | 108,515 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Los Alamos, NM | 13,317 | 116 | 1.0x |
| North Valley, NM | 10,455 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Bernalillo, NM | 9,086 | 96 | 0.8x |
| Edgewood, NM | 6,124 | 103 | 0.9x |
| White Rock, NM | 5,716 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM | 5,619 | 131 | 1.2x |
