Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 2% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$969
+41% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,167
+16% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,559
+3% in Santa Fe, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,733
+10% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$411,500
+15% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$70,110
+2% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$48,710
+10% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
46.4 yr
+24.4 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
50.3%
62.8%
+12.5 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
45.4%
+12.1 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
20.2 min
+0.6 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
843.3
+158% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
2,024.6
5,189
+156% 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
54.9°F
51.9°F
+3.0°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
13.5 in
+29.6 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Newark, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.1
+22% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$9.31
+69% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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 (DE / NM)
None
4.875%
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
5.90%
+0.7 pp in DE

Newark vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Santa Fe?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Santa Fe?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).