City Comparison

Beaumont vs Santa Fe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Santa Fe

New Mexico
117
Above Average
$480,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$61,982
Median Income

The Verdict

33.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 33.3%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $112,500 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
96
Beaumont
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
102
Beaumont
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
93
Beaumont
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
95
Santa Fe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $112,500 in Santa Fe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $50,000 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Santa Fe

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $480,000. The $314,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,412 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $489/month in Santa Fe. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 95 in Santa Fe. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $52,976 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/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 72 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 33.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $112,500 in Santa Fe, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Santa Fe's is 153 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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