Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,210 in San Diego, CA versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $104,321 in San Diego, CA and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 33% higher in San Diego, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: California vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — MTS vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
San Diego vs Santa Fe — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in San Diego or Santa Fe?
- Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in San Diego than in Santa Fe?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $75,000 a year in San Diego versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
- Which has lower taxes, San Diego or Santa Fe?
- San Diego is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).