Hillsboro vs Santa Fe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hillsboro
Santa Fe
The Verdict
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
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
Moving & Relocation Resources
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