Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or Worcester?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Santa Fe versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Santa Fe or Worcester?

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); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Santa Fe vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 4% higher in Santa Fe, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Santa Fe, NM

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$969

$1,087

+12% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,028

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,476

+5% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,733

$1,675

+3% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$411,500

$339,500

+17% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$70,110

$67,544

+4% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,710

$57,830

+19% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

46.4 yr

34.1 yr

+12.3 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

62.8%

42.4%

+20.4 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.4%

34.1%

+11.3 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

20.2 min

25.1 min

+4.9 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

843.3

640.2

+24% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

5,189

1,580.3

+70% 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

47.9°F

+4.0°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

13.5 in

48.1 in

+34.6 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.07/gal

+12% in Worcester, MA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.6

+97% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$9.31

$30.66

+229% in Worcester, MA

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

$1.92

+6% in Santa Fe, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Santa Fe, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / MA)

4.875%

6.25%

+1.4 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

9.00%

+3.1 pp in MA

Santa Fe vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or Worcester?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Santa Fe than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Santa Fe versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Santa Fe or Worcester?: 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); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).