Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 21% higher in Santa Fe, NM. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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.

Columbia, SC
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$802
$969
+21% in Santa Fe, NM
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,167
+14% in Santa Fe, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,559
+34% in Santa Fe, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,733
+30% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$411,500
+69% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$70,110
+26% in Santa Fe, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$48,710
+5% in Santa Fe, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
46.4 yr
+17.7 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
47.3%
62.8%
+15.5 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
45.4%
+0.7 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
20.2 min
+2.8 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
843.3
+10% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
3,265.1
5,189
+59% 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
64.9°F
51.9°F
+13.0°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
13.5 in
+31.9 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Columbia, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.1
+3% in Columbia, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$9.31
+68% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Santa Fe, NM
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Santa Fe, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Columbia, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Santa Fe, NM
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Santa Fe, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Santa Fe, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / NM)
6%
4.875%
+1.1 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
5.90%
+0.1 pp in SC

Columbia vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Santa Fe?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Santa Fe?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Santa Fe?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).