CostIndexUSA

Santa Fe, NM vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Santa Fe
98.8
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Tucson is slightly cheaper than Santa Fe — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Santa Fe, you would need $78,500 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing15.0%
Santa Fe
108
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Santa Fe
96.1
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Santa Fe
103.5
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+1.3%
Santa Fe
93.6
Tucson
94.8
Utilities+16.7%
Santa Fe
76.7
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Santa Fe to see what you'd need to earn in Tucson to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 98.8) = salary × 0.9808. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Santa Fe, NM

Median Home Price
$541,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
108
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Santa Fe has 15.0% lower housing costs compared to Tucson.

Income & Job Market

Santa Fe, NM

Median Household Income
$78,700
Per Capita Income
$44,900
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
84,683
Top Industries
GovernmentTourismArtsHealthcareEducation

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Santa Fe, NM
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.