CostIndexUSA

El Paso, TX vs Santa Fe, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
NM
Santa Fe
98.8
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

El Paso is moderately cheaper than Santa Fe — 9.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in El Paso, you would need $87,900 in Santa Fe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+51.7%
El Paso
71.2
Santa Fe
108
🛒 Groceries+2.5%
El Paso
93.8
Santa Fe
96.1
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
El Paso
101.1
Santa Fe
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.4%
El Paso
91.4
Santa Fe
93.6
Utilities7.1%
El Paso
82.6
Santa Fe
76.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in El Paso to see what you'd need to earn in Santa Fe to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Fe, NM
$87,900
$7,900 more needed in Santa Fe

Formula: salary × (98.8 ÷ 89.9) = salary × 1.0990. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Santa Fe, NM

Median Home Price
$541,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
108
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Santa Fe has 51.7% higher housing costs compared to El Paso.

Income & Job Market

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

Santa Fe, NM

Median Household Income
$78,700
Per Capita Income
$44,900
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
84,683
Top Industries
GovernmentTourismArtsHealthcareEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Santa Fe, NM
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.