Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or Washington?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Santa Fe versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Santa Fe or Washington?

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); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Santa Fe vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 34% higher in Washington, DC. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Santa Fe, NM

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

$969

$1,763

+82% in Washington, DC

1 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,885

+62% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,949

+25% in Washington, DC

3 Bedroom

$1,733

$2,249

+30% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$411,500

$724,600

+76% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$70,110

$106,287

+52% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,710

$71,060

+46% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

46.4 yr

34.9 yr

+11.5 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

62.8%

41.1%

+21.7 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.4%

63.6%

+18.2 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

20.2 min

30.3 min

+10.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

843.3

936.3

+11% in Washington, DC

Property Crime

5,189

3,627.9

+30% 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

58.2°F

+6.3°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

13.5 in

39.7 in

+26.2 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

25.4

+80% in Washington, DC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$22.01

+85% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC

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 / DC)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in DC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

10.75%

+4.8 pp in DC

Santa Fe vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or Washington?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Santa Fe than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Santa Fe versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Santa Fe or Washington?: 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); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).