Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Santa Fe?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (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 Newark than in Santa Fe?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Santa Fe?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).

Newark vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 31% higher in Santa Fe, NM. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$969

+13% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,167

+19% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,559

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,733

+2% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$411,500

+22% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$70,110

+45% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$48,710

+21% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

46.4 yr

+11.6 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

24.1%

62.8%

+38.7 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

45.4%

+28.0 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

33.2 min

20.2 min

+13.0 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

843.3

+45% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

1,961.8

5,189

+165% 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, NJ

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

13.5 in

+32.8 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Newark, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

14.1

+39% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$11.90

+25% in Newark, NJ

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 Newark, NJ

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 (NJ / NM)

6.625%

4.875%

+1.8 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

5.90%

+4.8 pp in NJ

Newark vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Santa Fe?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (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 Newark than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Santa Fe?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).