Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

vs
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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 7% higher in Chicago, 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.

Chicago, IL
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$969
+18% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,167
+7% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,559
+11% in Santa Fe, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,733
+12% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$411,500
+31% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$70,110
+7% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$48,710
+11% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
46.4 yr
+10.7 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
45.5%
62.8%
+17.3 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
45.4%
+2.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Avg Commute
33.5 min
20.2 min
+13.3 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
843.3
+56% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
3,489.9
5,189
+49% 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
52.7°F
51.9°F
+0.8°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
13.5 in
+24.5 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.62/gal
+16% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
14.1
+41% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$11.90
+23% in Chicago, 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 Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Santa Fe, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Chicago, 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

Chicago vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Santa Fe?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Santa Fe?
Chicago 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).