Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Santa Fe?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland 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 Rutland versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Santa Fe?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).

Rutland vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 22% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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.

Rutland, VT

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$893

$969

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$856

$1,167

+36% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$1,559

+42% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,733

+44% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$411,500

+133% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$70,110

+27% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$48,710

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

46.4 yr

+2.1 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

62.8%

+10.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

45.4%

+13.2 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

14.7 min

20.2 min

+5.5 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

843.3

+73% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

3,973.3

5,189

+31% 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

44.6°F

51.9°F

+7.3°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

13.5 in

+27.0 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

15.1

+38% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$9.31

+64% in Rutland, VT

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 Rutland, VT

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 (VT / NM)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

5.90%

+2.8 pp in VT

Rutland vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Santa Fe?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland 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 Rutland versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Santa Fe?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).