Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Santa Fe?

Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).

Portland vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Maine

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

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 8% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Portland, ME

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,038

$969

+7% in Portland, ME

1 Bedroom

$1,331

$1,167

+12% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,559

+6% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,919

$1,733

+10% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$452,600

$411,500

+9% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$76,174

$70,110

+8% in Portland, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,960

$48,710

+14% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.5 yr

46.4 yr

+8.9 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

46.7%

62.8%

+16.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

45.4%

+13.8 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

19.9 min

20.2 min

+0.3 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

272.7

843.3

+209% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

2,513.3

5,189

+106% 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

46.5°F

51.9°F

+5.4°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

13.5 in

+33.8 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Portland, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.6

14.1

+51% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.00

$11.90

+43% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME

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 (ME / NM)

5.5%

4.875%

+0.6 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.90%

+1.3 pp in ME

Portland vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Santa Fe?: Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).