Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Santa Fe?

Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).

Naperville vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 54% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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.

Naperville, IL

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,713

$969

+43% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,594

$1,167

+27% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,889

$1,559

+17% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$2,446

$1,733

+29% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$509,900

$411,500

+19% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$150,937

$70,110

+54% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$48,710

+11% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

46.4 yr

+6.3 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

74.3%

62.8%

+11.5 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

71.7%

45.4%

+26.3 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

31.4 min

20.2 min

+11.2 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

85.7

843.3

+884% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

892.2

5,189

+482% 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

49.9°F

51.9°F

+2.0°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

13.5 in

+23.4 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Naperville, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

14.1

+41% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$11.90

+23% in Naperville, IL

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 Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Naperville, IL

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 (IL / NM)

6.25%

4.875%

+1.4 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

5.90%

+1.0 pp in NM

Naperville vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Santa Fe?: Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).