Living Cost Compare
Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 23% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Santa Fe, NM
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$969
$1,496
+54% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,357
+16% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,559
$1,559
about equal
3 Bedroom
$1,733
$1,857
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$411,500
$366,300
+11% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$70,110
$90,685
+29% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,430
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
46.4 yr
37.4 yr
+9.0 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
62.8%
64.9%
+2.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
45.4%
40.4%
+5.0 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Avg Commute
20.2 min
23.2 min
+3.0 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
843.3
96.9
+89% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
5,189
1,664.9
+68% 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
59.9°F
+8.0°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
13.5 in
44.3 in
+30.8 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.6
+25% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$23.66
+99% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Santa Fe, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Santa Fe, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Santa Fe, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Santa Fe, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Santa Fe, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / VA)
4.875%
5.3%
+0.4 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
5.75%
+0.2 pp in NM

Santa Fe vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or Virginia Beach?
Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Santa Fe than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Santa Fe versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Santa Fe or Virginia Beach?
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); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).