Cost of living in Santa Fe: rent, homes and salary
Cost of living in Santa Fe sits 1.2% below the US average. For the Santa Fe, NM metro area, the 2024 BEA regional price parity (RPP) comes to 98.8; the US stands at 100, and housing alone at 108.0.
- Level of prices
- 98.8US = 100, BEA 2024
- Housing cost level
- 108.0 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Santa Fe
A regional price parity sets the US average at 100, then compares it with what one place pays for the same set of goods and services. For BEA pricing, Santa Fe is included with the rest of the Santa Fe, NM metro area. Utilities are the furthest from the US average, with an index of 76.7, or 23.3% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Santa Fe, NM metro | New Mexico | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.8 | 92.2 | −1.2% |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.1 | −3.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 108.0 | 73.6 | +8.0% |
| Utilities | 76.7 | 77.9 | −23.3% |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.5 | −1.5% |
By metro area and state, the 2024 regional price parities come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). BEA regional price parity data
Rent prices in Santa Fe
The Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) puts the typical asking rent in Santa Fe at $1,956 a month. It measures rent for homes listed now and is +0.6% on a year. The US figure is $1,932. Census puts median gross rent at $1,693. That number counts every renting household, not only new leases. Annual asking rent equals 29% of median household income.
| Rent | Santa Fe | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,956 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +0.6% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,693 | $1,487 |
| One year of asking rent measured against median income | 29% | 28% |
Figures come from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, which uses one-year estimates.
Santa Fe home prices
A home in the middle of the market is what the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) tracks. In Santa Fe, that typical home had a value of $576,890 in September 2026. That figure is +0.6% on a year, while the US figure is $366,157. The price equals 7.0 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 years for the US.
| Home prices | Santa Fe | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $576,890 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +0.6% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +85.0% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 7.0 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 24.6 | 15.8 |
The Santa Fe housing market page has the price chart since 2000, plus the forecast and days on market.
The salary needed to live in Santa Fe
The two questions are where you live plus what you earn; together they set the Santa Fe salary that matches what your pay buys now.
- Moving from
- Salary
See the method and each city side by side: cost of living by city.
Moving to Santa Fe? Compare moving quotes on Moving.com, a mover-quote service; we are not paid for this link.
Other cities compared with Santa Fe cost of living
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rental cost | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | 98.8 | 108.0 | $1,956 | $576,890 |
| Albuquerque | 95.5 | 89.2 | $1,452 | $344,199 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
BEA regional price parities, 2024, provide the price levels with US = 100. For rent, Zillow ZORI. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living by city. See cost of living by state for every state.