Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston 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 Cranston versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Santa Fe?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).

Cranston vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Cranston, RI versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cranston, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 20% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

—

$969

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,167

+13% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,559

+8% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,733

+3% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$411,500

+18% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$70,110

+20% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$48,710

+9% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

46.4 yr

+6.3 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

67.3%

62.8%

+4.5 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

45.4%

+9.6 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

23.8 min

20.2 min

+3.6 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

843.3

+806% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

1,065.4

5,189

+387% 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

51.6°F

51.9°F

+0.3°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

13.5 in

+33.7 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Cranston, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

15.1

+48% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$9.31

+64% in Cranston, RI

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 Cranston, RI

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 (RI / NM)

4.875%

+2.1 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

5.90%

+0.1 pp in RI

Cranston vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston 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 Cranston versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Santa Fe?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).