Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/mo est.

vs
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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA versus $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco, CA and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 50% higher in San Francisco, 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.

San Francisco, CA
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$969
+38% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$1,167
+52% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$1,559
+48% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$1,733
+47% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$411,500
+70% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$70,110
+50% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$48,710
+34% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
46.4 yr
+6.7 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
38.5%
62.8%
+24.3 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
45.4%
+14.7 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
31.2 min
20.2 min
+11.0 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
843.3
+41% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
3,962.2
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
57.3°F
51.9°F
+5.4°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
13.5 in
+10.1 in in San Francisco, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.43/gal
$3.62/gal
+33% in San Francisco, CA

Area: San Francisco vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — SF Muni vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
14.1
+58% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$11.90
+43% in San Francisco, CA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / NM)
7.25%
4.875%
+2.4 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
5.90%
+7.4 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Francisco than in Santa Fe?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Santa Fe?
San Francisco 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).