CostIndexUSA

San Luis Obispo, CA vs Santa Fe, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent
More AffordableNM
Santa Fe
98.8
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

Santa Fe is moderately cheaper than San Luis Obispo — 9.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Luis Obispo, you would need $72,800 in Santa Fe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.2%
San Luis Obispo
144.4
Santa Fe
108
🛒 Groceries8.7%
San Luis Obispo
105.2
Santa Fe
96.1
🚗 Transportation1.7%
San Luis Obispo
105.3
Santa Fe
103.5
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Santa Fe
93.6
Utilities48.1%
San Luis Obispo
147.8
Santa Fe
76.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Fe, NM
$72,800
$7,200 less needed in Santa Fe

Formula: salary × (98.8 ÷ 108.6) = salary × 0.9098. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

Santa Fe, NM

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

San Luis Obispo has 25.2% lower housing costs compared to Santa Fe.

Income & Job Market

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

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).

San Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% 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.