Lincoln vs Santa Fe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lincoln
Santa Fe
The Verdict
Lincoln is 20.5% less expensive than Santa Fe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lincoln would need approximately $94,355 in Santa Fe to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has the same purchasing power as $94,355 in Santa Fe.
Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $59,615 in Lincoln.
Living in Lincoln vs Santa Fe
Housing Costs
Lincoln's housing index of 77 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $480,000. The $216,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,040 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln 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 93 in Lincoln and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln 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 $71,900 in Lincoln and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $52,976 respectively. Lincoln residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,678/month to housing in Lincoln vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/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 76 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases