Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Santa Fe?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Santa Fe?

Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax).

Allentown vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Allentown, PA versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 24% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,043

$969

+7% in Allentown, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,167

+6% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,271

$1,559

+23% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,431

$1,733

+21% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$188,900

$411,500

+118% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$53,403

$70,110

+31% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,990

$48,710

+1% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

46.4 yr

+14.0 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

42.3%

62.8%

+20.5 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

19.4%

45.4%

+26.0 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

24.8 min

20.2 min

+4.6 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

274.5

843.3

+207% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

1,591.5

5,189

+226% in Santa Fe, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.2°F

51.9°F

+0.7°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

13.5 in

+31.9 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Allentown, PA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.6

14.1

+34% in Allentown, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.17

$11.90

+38% in Allentown, PA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Santa Fe, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Allentown, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / NM)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

5.90%

+2.8 pp in NM

Allentown vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Santa Fe?: Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).