๐Ÿ“Š Cost of Living Comparison

Cambridge vs Santa Fe

Side-by-side cost of living comparison for 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts
178
Very Expensive
$890,000
Median Home
$3,100/mo
Median Rent
$103,154
Median Income

Santa Fe

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

๐Ÿ’ก The Verdict

34% cheaper
Santa Fe is 34% more affordable than Cambridge. A $75,000 salary in Cambridge is equivalent to $49,298 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values shown. National average = 100. Lower is cheaper.

Housing
280
Cambridge
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
110
Cambridge
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
126
Cambridge
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
105
Cambridge
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
95
Santa Fe

๐Ÿ’ฐ Salary Equivalence

To maintain the same standard of living:

$49,298
$75K in Cambridge โ†’ Santa Fe
$114,103
$75K in Santa Fe โ†’ Cambridge

See exact take-home pay: Massachusetts salaries ยท New Mexico salaries

Living in Cambridge vs Santa Fe

Housing is typically the biggest factor in any cost-of-living comparison. Cambridge has a housing index of 280 while Santa Fe sits at 153 (national average = 100). The median home in Cambridge costs $890,000 compared to $480,000 in Santa Fe, a difference of $410,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $3,100 in Cambridge versus $1,600 in Santa Fe.

Groceries and everyday expenses show a notable difference: Cambridge scores 110 while Santa Fe scores 103.

Healthcare costs in Cambridge (118) are higher than Santa Fe (95).

Median household income in Cambridge is $103,154 compared to $61,982 in Santa Fe. When adjusted for cost of living, income goes further in Santa Fe.

๐Ÿ”— Related Tools

๐Ÿ“š Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving Planners โ†’Finance Books โ†’Budget Planners โ†’

Amazon affiliate links