Farmington, NM vs Santa Fe, NM

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Farmington is 27.1% cheaper than Santa Fe. With a cost index of 79 vs 109, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Farmington to Santa Fe should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Farmington is $993/month compared to $1,380/month in Santa Fe — a 28% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Farmington is more affordable at $225,400 median vs $411,500.

Median household income in Farmington is $63,745 compared to $70,110 in Santa Fe (-9.1%). Santa Fe does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Farmington spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, less than the 23.6% in Santa Fe.