Rio Rancho, NM vs Santa Fe, NM

Rio Rancho is moderately more affordable than Santa Fe, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Rio Rancho scores 100 compared to 109 for Santa Fe, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Santa Fe can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Rio Rancho is $1,481/month compared to $1,380/month in Santa Fe — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Santa Fe has cheaper rent, Rio Rancho actually has lower median home values ($273,300 vs $411,500).

Median household income in Rio Rancho is $85,755 compared to $70,110 in Santa Fe (+22.3%). Rio Rancho offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Rio Rancho spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, less than the 23.6% in Santa Fe.