City Comparison

Sandy vs Santa Fe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sandy

Utah
128
Expensive
$630,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$111,200
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%

The cost gap between these cities is 9.4%, with Santa Fe being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Sandy has equivalent purchasing power to $68,555 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
189
Sandy
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
100
Sandy
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
88
Sandy
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
106
Sandy
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
95
Sandy
95
Santa Fe

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Sandy vs Santa Fe

Housing Costs

Sandy's housing index of 189 is higher Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $630,000 vs $480,000. The $150,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,756 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Sandy compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Sandy and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Sandy 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 88 in Sandy and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Sandy vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Sandy 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 $111,200 in Sandy and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,875 and $52,976 respectively. Sandy residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,595/month to housing in Sandy vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Sandy, 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 Housing, where the gap is 36 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 Sandy has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,555 in Santa Fe, based on the cost of living difference.
Sandy's housing index is 189 with median homes at $630,000, while Santa Fe's is 153 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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