City Comparison

Champaign vs Santa Fe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Champaign

Illinois
81
Very Affordable
$215,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$56,100
Median Income

Santa Fe

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

The Verdict

30.8%

Living in Champaign costs 30.8% less than Santa Fe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Champaign, you would need $108,333 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
83
Champaign
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
98
Champaign
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
106
Champaign
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
99
Champaign
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
90
Champaign
95
Santa Fe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Champaign has the same purchasing power as $108,333 in Santa Fe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $51,923 in Champaign.

Living in Champaign vs Santa Fe

Housing Costs

Champaign's housing index of 83 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $215,000 vs $480,000. The $265,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,220 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Champaign compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Champaign and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Champaign vs $489/month in Santa Fe. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 106 in Champaign and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Champaign vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Champaign and 95 in Santa Fe. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,100 in Champaign and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,259 and $52,976 respectively. Champaign residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Champaign vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/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 70 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Champaign is 30.8% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Champaign has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $108,333 in Santa Fe, based on the cost of living difference.
Champaign's housing index is 83 with median homes at $215,000, while Santa Fe's is 153 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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