City Comparison

Hillsboro vs Santa Fe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
Median Income

Santa Fe

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

The Verdict

9.4%

Living in Santa Fe costs 9.4% less than Hillsboro. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Hillsboro, you would need $68,555 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
175
Hillsboro
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
108
Hillsboro
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
96
Hillsboro
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
126
Hillsboro
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
103
Hillsboro
95
Santa Fe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Hillsboro has the same purchasing power as $68,555 in Santa Fe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $82,051 in Hillsboro.

Living in Hillsboro vs Santa Fe

Housing Costs

Hillsboro's housing index of 175 is higher Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $533,000 vs $480,000. The $53,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,444 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hillsboro compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Hillsboro and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Hillsboro 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 96 in Hillsboro and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hillsboro vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Hillsboro 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,359 and $52,976 respectively. Hillsboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,490/month to housing in Hillsboro vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/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 Transportation, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Fe is 9.4% more affordable overall with an index of 117 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Hillsboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,555 in Santa Fe, based on the cost of living difference.
Hillsboro's housing index is 175 with median homes at $533,000, while Santa Fe's is 153 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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