City Comparison

Concord vs Santa Fe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

Santa Fe

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

The Verdict

17.9%

Living in Concord costs 17.9% less than Santa Fe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Concord, you would need $91,406 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
89
Concord
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
97
Concord
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
97
Concord
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
92
Concord
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
104
Concord
95
Santa Fe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $91,406 in Santa Fe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $61,538 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Santa Fe

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $480,000. The $100,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,504 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $489/month in Santa Fe. Concord offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord 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 $86,900 in Concord and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $52,976 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/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 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concord is 17.9% more affordable overall with an index of 96 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,406 in Santa Fe, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Santa Fe's is 153 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases