A+
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
1%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Santa Fe Texas National
Cost of living9992100
Goods & Services10196100
Groceries10096100
Health care9494100
Housing10183100
Transportation9092100
Utilities103104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Santa Fe, TX

The cost of living in Santa Fe affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Santa Fe is 99, which is 1% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Santa Fe are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Santa Fe can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Santa Fe Affordable?

Is Santa Fe an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Santa Fe, the median home price is 3.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 6.2% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Santa Fe come in at $77,926, which is 40.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Santa Fe?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Santa Fe, the healthcare costs are 6.1% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Santa Fe, the utilities index is 2.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Santa Fe displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Santa Fe is 8% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Santa Fe is 1% lower than the national average
  • Santa Fe housing is 1% higher than the national average
  • Texas general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Texas state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Santa Fe

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Compare Santa Fe, TX Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$86,209$7,184$2,011$2,587
      Renters$31,045$2,587$724$931
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Santa Fe is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Santa Fe has a median income of about $86,209 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,011 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $31,045. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $724 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Texas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Texas 6.25% 8.25%

      Texas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Texas 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Santa Fe National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.33$24.2616.2%
      Beauty Salon $47.38$45.564.0%
      Toothpaste $3.48$3.706.1%
      Shampoo $1.22$1.285.0%
      Movie $12.19$12.130.4%
      Bowling $15.83$18.0012.0%

      Groceries

      Item Santa Fe National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.25$5.8410.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.4%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.5%
      Potatoes $5.00$4.931.4%
      Pizza $11.82$12.092.2%
      Beer $10.38$10.410.3%

      Health Care

      Item Santa Fe National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.98$125.680.2%
      Doctor $90.89$135.7833.1%
      Dentist $108.10$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.46$10.651.8%
      Lipitor $503.40$468.607.4%

      Housing

      Item Santa Fe National avg. Difference
      Home Price $191,600.00$184,700.003.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,055.86$2,346.6912.4%
      Apartment Rent $890.00$949.006.2%

      Transportation

      Item Santa Fe National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.14$3.469.1%
      Tire Balancing $56.62$59.925.5%

      Utilities

      Item Santa Fe National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $233.43$193.9920.3%
      Phone $208.71$192.258.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Liverpool, TX5228613.9%
      La Marque, TX16,983918.9%
      Hitchcock, TX7,831918.7%
      Texas City, TX49,468946.3%
      Bacliff, TX11,513955.4%
      Santa Fe, TX13,326990.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      North Valley, NM13,3311000.1%
      Montgomeryville, PA13,31912727.2%
      Yulee, FL13,3461011.1%
      Kettering, MD13,30213534.7%
      Solana Beach, CA13,301254153.9%
      Santa Fe, TX13,326990.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.