Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Santa Fe?

Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Santa Fe?

Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).

Cincinnati vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 26% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$791

$969

+23% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$817

$1,167

+43% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,023

$1,559

+52% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,228

$1,733

+41% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$215,300

$411,500

+91% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$51,707

$70,110

+36% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,170

$48,710

+3% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

46.4 yr

+13.4 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

38.9%

62.8%

+23.9 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.3%

45.4%

+4.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

23.1 min

20.2 min

+2.9 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

856.5

843.3

+2% in Cincinnati, OH

Property Crime

3,877.7

5,189

+34% 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

54.3°F

51.9°F

+2.4°F in Cincinnati, OH

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

13.5 in

+28.4 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.62/gal

+13% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

14.1

+28% in Cincinnati, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$11.90

+48% in Cincinnati, OH

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 Cincinnati, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cincinnati, OH

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 (OH / NM)

5.75%

4.875%

+0.9 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

5.90%

+3.2 pp in NM

Cincinnati vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Santa Fe?: Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Santa Fe?: Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).