Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Santa Fe?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no 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).

Nashua vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 24% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$969

+14% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,167

+16% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,559

+8% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,733

+11% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$411,500

+10% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$70,110

+24% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$48,710

+14% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

46.4 yr

+6.7 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

56.4%

62.8%

+6.4 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

45.4%

+4.9 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

25.3 min

20.2 min

+5.1 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

843.3

+411% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

1,269

5,189

+309% 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

49.2°F

51.9°F

+2.7°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

13.5 in

+31.1 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Nashua, NH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

15.1

+44% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$9.31

+57% in Nashua, NH

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 Nashua, NH

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 (NH / NM)

None

4.875%

+4.9 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.90%

+5.9 pp in NM

Nashua vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Santa Fe?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no 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).