Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Santa Fe?

Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Santa Fe?

Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).

Cedar Rapids vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/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 $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 3% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$659

$969

+47% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$716

$1,167

+63% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$997

$1,559

+56% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,335

$1,733

+30% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$177,100

$411,500

+132% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$67,859

$70,110

+3% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,360

$48,710

+1% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.9 yr

46.4 yr

+9.5 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

68.2%

62.8%

+5.4 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

45.4%

+12.5 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

18.2 min

20.2 min

+2.0 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

264.5

843.3

+219% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

2,726

5,189

+90% 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

48.2°F

51.9°F

+3.7°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

34.6 in

13.5 in

+21.1 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.1

+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.16

$9.31

+58% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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 Cedar Rapids, IA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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 (IA / NM)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in IA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.80%

5.90%

+2.1 pp in NM

Cedar Rapids vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Santa Fe?: Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Santa Fe?: Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).