CostIndexUSA

Santa Fe, NM vs Worcester, MA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Santa Fe
98.8
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
MA
Worcester
102.5
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Santa Fe is slightly cheaper than Worcester — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Santa Fe, you would need $83,000 in Worcester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+4.6%
Santa Fe
108
Worcester
113
🛒 Groceries+0.9%
Santa Fe
96.1
Worcester
97
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Santa Fe
103.5
Worcester
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.7%
Santa Fe
93.6
Worcester
96.1
Utilities+102.3%
Santa Fe
76.7
Worcester
155.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Worcester, MA
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in Worcester

Formula: salary × (102.5 ÷ 98.8) = salary × 1.0374. 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×

Worcester, MA

Median Home Price
$461,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
113
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Worcester has 4.6% higher housing costs compared to Santa Fe.

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

Worcester, MA

Median Household Income
$94,100
Per Capita Income
$53,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
206,518
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceTechnology

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)

Worcester, MA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.