Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Santa Fe?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).

Boston vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/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 $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 26% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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.

Boston, MA

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$969

+49% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$1,167

+41% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,559

+28% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$1,733

+22% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$411,500

+42% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$70,110

+26% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$48,710

+27% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

46.4 yr

+13.2 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

35.4%

62.8%

+27.4 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

45.4%

+8.7 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

20.2 min

+10.0 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

843.3

+34% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

2,030.8

5,189

+156% 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

51.5°F

51.9°F

+0.4°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

13.5 in

+30.3 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.8

14.1

+51% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.39

$11.90

+62% in Boston, MA

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 Boston, MA

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 (MA / NM)

6.25%

4.875%

+1.4 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

5.90%

+3.1 pp in MA

Boston vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Santa Fe?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).