Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or Topeka?

Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Santa Fe or Topeka?

Santa Fe is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Santa Fe vs Topeka Cost of Living 2026

Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/mo est.

Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM versus $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 20% higher in Santa Fe, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Santa Fe, NM

Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio

$969

$702

+28% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$1,167

$758

+35% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,559

$977

+37% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,733

$1,177

+32% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$411,500

$130,600

+68% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$70,110

$55,902

+20% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,710

$49,540

+2% in Topeka, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

46.4 yr

38.2 yr

+8.2 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

62.8%

59.2%

+3.6 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.4%

29.1%

+16.3 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

20.2 min

16.7 min

+3.5 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

843.3

856.5

+2% in Topeka, KS

Property Crime

5,189

3,660.2

+29% 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

51.9°F

55.1°F

+3.2°F in Topeka, KS

Annual Precipitation

13.5 in

36.5 in

+23.0 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Topeka, KS

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.7

+4% in Topeka, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$9.31

$25.12

+170% in Topeka, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Santa Fe, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Santa Fe, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Topeka, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Topeka, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / KS)

4.875%

6.5%

+1.6 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

5.58%

+0.3 pp in NM

Santa Fe vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or Topeka?: Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Santa Fe than in Topeka?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Santa Fe versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Santa Fe or Topeka?: Santa Fe is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).