Augusta vs Santa Fe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Augusta
Santa Fe
The Verdict
Augusta is 31.6% less expensive than Santa Fe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Augusta would need approximately $109,688 in Santa Fe to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Augusta has the same purchasing power as $109,688 in Santa Fe.
Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $51,282 in Augusta.
Living in Augusta vs Santa Fe
Housing Costs
Augusta's housing index of 62 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $225,000 vs $480,000. The $255,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,572 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Augusta compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Augusta and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Augusta vs $489/month in Santa Fe. Augusta offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 104 in Augusta and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $416 in Augusta vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 81 in Augusta and 95 in Santa Fe. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $55,500 in Augusta and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,375 and $52,976 respectively. Augusta residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,295/month to housing in Augusta vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Augusta, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 91 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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