Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 16% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Texas has no state income tax 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.

El Paso, TX
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$707
$969
+37% in Santa Fe, NM
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,167
+43% in Santa Fe, NM
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,559
+57% in Santa Fe, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,733
+38% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$411,500
+140% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$70,110
+19% in Santa Fe, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$48,710
+23% in Santa Fe, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
46.4 yr
+12.3 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
60.2%
62.8%
+2.6 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
45.4%
+17.9 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Avg Commute
23.7 min
20.2 min
+3.5 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
843.3
+164% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
1,509.3
5,189
+244% 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
64.6°F
51.9°F
+12.7°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
13.5 in
+3.8 in in Santa Fe, NM

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.1
+14% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$11.90
+61% in El Paso, TX

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 El Paso, TX
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 (TX / NM)
6.25%
4.875%
+1.4 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.90%
+5.9 pp in NM

El Paso vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Santa Fe?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso 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 El Paso versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Santa Fe?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).