Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Santa Fe?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Santa Fe?

Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).

Rochester vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,628 in Rochester, NY and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 33% higher in Santa Fe, NM. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Rochester, NY

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$750

$969

+29% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$857

$1,167

+36% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,114

$1,559

+40% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,240

$1,733

+40% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$120,600

$411,500

+241% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$46,628

$70,110

+50% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,210

$48,710

+5% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.5 yr

46.4 yr

+12.9 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

37.2%

62.8%

+25.6 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.9%

45.4%

+15.5 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

18.9 min

20.2 min

+1.3 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

690

843.3

+22% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

3,533.4

5,189

+47% 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

48.2°F

51.9°F

+3.7°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

34.3 in

13.5 in

+20.8 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.04/gal

$3.62/gal

+10% in Rochester, NY

Area: New York vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.9

14.1

+53% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.74

$11.90

+48% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY

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 (NY / NM)

4.875%

+0.9 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

5.90%

+5.0 pp in NY

Rochester vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Santa Fe?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Santa Fe?: Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).