Is Santa Fe, NM expensive to live in?

Santa Fe costs around $3,300 per person per month for a moderate lifestyle, about 6 percent below the US average ($3,525) and matching the New Mexico state mean. The headline number undersells the local picture though: Santa Fe housing demand from tourism, second-home buyers, and the art economy keeps rents and home prices well above what the state-level average implies. A one-bedroom near the Plaza runs $1,300 to $1,800, comparable to many larger Western metros. Santa Fe runs below Colorado ($3,625), Arizona ($3,900), and Utah ($3,500), and well below Denver ($3,625). The trade-off is a thinner job market outside government, healthcare, and tourism. For the full breakdown, see our Santa Fe cost of living page.