Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Santa Fe?

Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).

Mesa vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Mesa, AZ versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 11% higher in Mesa, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,209

$969

+20% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,288

$1,167

+9% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,458

$1,559

+7% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,733

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$364,300

$411,500

+13% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$78,779

$70,110

+11% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$48,710

+5% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

46.4 yr

+9.2 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

64.4%

62.8%

+1.6 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.5%

45.4%

+13.9 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

25.0 min

20.2 min

+4.8 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

486.2

843.3

+73% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

1,488

5,189

+249% 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

75.1°F

51.9°F

+23.2°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

13.5 in

+5.5 in in Santa Fe, NM

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.62/gal

+29% in Mesa, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.1

+7% in Mesa, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.44

$11.90

+47% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / NM)

5.6%

4.875%

+0.7 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

5.90%

+3.4 pp in NM

Mesa vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Santa Fe?: Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).