Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Santa Fe?

Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Santa Fe?

Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).

Kansas City vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Kansas City

Missouri

$1,200/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 $1,200 in Kansas City, MO versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,449 in Kansas City, MO and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 4% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Kansas City, MO

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$961

$969

+1% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,167

+13% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,211

$1,559

+29% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$1,733

+25% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$227,000

$411,500

+81% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$67,449

$70,110

+4% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,820

$48,710

+4% in Kansas City, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

46.4 yr

+10.7 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

54.6%

62.8%

+8.2 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.8%

45.4%

+7.6 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

21.9 min

20.2 min

+1.7 min in Kansas City, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,557.1

843.3

+46% in Kansas City, MO

Property Crime

4,722.1

5,189

+10% 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

56.7°F

51.9°F

+4.8°F in Kansas City, MO

Annual Precipitation

39.1 in

13.5 in

+25.6 in in Kansas City, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Kansas City, MO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.7

14.1

+3% in Santa Fe, NM

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.13

$11.90

+51% in Kansas City, MO

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 Kansas City, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Kansas City, MO

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 (MO / NM)

4.225%

4.875%

+0.7 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

4.70%

5.90%

+1.2 pp in NM

Kansas City vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Santa Fe?: Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City 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 Kansas City versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Santa Fe?: Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).