Living Cost Compare
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 9% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Pittsburgh, PA
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,109
$969
+13% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,079
$1,167
+8% in Santa Fe, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,269
$1,559
+23% in Santa Fe, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,450
$1,733
+20% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$193,200
$411,500
+113% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$64,137
$70,110
+9% in Santa Fe, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,650
$48,710
+2% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
46.4 yr
+12.9 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
47.2%
62.8%
+15.6 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.8%
45.4%
+2.4 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
23.1 min
20.2 min
+2.9 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436
843.3
+93% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
2,315.7
5,189
+124% 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
51.8°F
51.9°F
+0.1°F in Santa Fe, NM
Annual Precipitation
39.3 in
13.5 in
+25.8 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
14.1
+34% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$11.90
+38% in Pittsburgh, PA

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
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Santa Fe, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Pittsburgh, PA
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 (PA / NM)
6%
4.875%
+1.1 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
5.90%
+2.8 pp in NM

Pittsburgh vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Pittsburgh or Santa Fe?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh than in Santa Fe?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Pittsburgh versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Pittsburgh or Santa Fe?
Pittsburgh is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 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).