Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Santa Fe?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).

Aurora vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Aurora, IL versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 22% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$893

$969

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,167

+1% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,559

+1% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,733

+4% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$411,500

+58% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$70,110

+22% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$48,710

+11% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

46.4 yr

+11.2 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

66.8%

62.8%

+4.0 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

45.4%

+8.2 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

28.0 min

20.2 min

+7.8 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

843.3

+213% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

1,247.4

5,189

+316% 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

49.9°F

51.9°F

+2.0°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

13.5 in

+23.4 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Aurora, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

14.1

+41% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$11.90

+23% in Aurora, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Santa Fe, NM

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Santa Fe, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NM)

6.25%

4.875%

+1.4 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

5.90%

+1.0 pp in NM

Aurora vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Santa Fe?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).