Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Richmond or Santa Fe?

Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).

Richmond vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,671 in Richmond, VA and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 11% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Richmond, VA

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,183

$969

+18% in Richmond, VA

1 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,167

+2% in Richmond, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,374

$1,559

+13% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,447

$1,733

+20% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$328,100

$411,500

+25% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$62,671

$70,110

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,460

$48,710

+5% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

46.4 yr

+11.9 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

43.5%

62.8%

+19.3 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.1%

45.4%

+1.3 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

22.1 min

20.2 min

+1.9 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

349

843.3

+142% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

3,240.2

5,189

+60% 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

58.9°F

51.9°F

+7.0°F in Richmond, VA

Annual Precipitation

43.6 in

13.5 in

+30.1 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Richmond, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.6

14.1

+20% in Richmond, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.66

$11.90

+50% in Richmond, VA

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 Richmond, VA

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 (VA / NM)

5.3%

4.875%

+0.4 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.75%

5.90%

+0.2 pp in NM

Richmond vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Richmond than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Richmond or Santa Fe?: Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).