City Comparison

Santa Fe vs Springdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Santa Fe

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

Springdale

Arkansas
87
Below Average
$299,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$62,100
Median Income

The Verdict

34.5%

Living in Springdale costs 34.5% less than Santa Fe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Santa Fe, you would need $55,769 in Springdale.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
153
Santa Fe
86
Springdale
Groceries
103
Santa Fe
97
Springdale
Utilities
96
Santa Fe
93
Springdale
Transportation
99
Santa Fe
91
Springdale
Healthcare
95
Santa Fe
82
Springdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Santa Fe has the same purchasing power as $55,769 in Springdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springdale equals $100,862 in Santa Fe.

Living in Santa Fe vs Springdale

Housing Costs

Santa Fe's housing index of 153 is higher Springdale's 86, translating to median home prices of $480,000 vs $299,000. The $181,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,760 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Santa Fe compared to $1,000/mo in Springdale, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Santa Fe and 93 in Springdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Santa Fe vs $372 in Springdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Santa Fe and 82 in Springdale. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $61,982 in Santa Fe and $62,100 in Springdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,976 and $71,379 respectively. Springdale residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,446/month to housing in Santa Fe vs $1,449/month in Springdale. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springdale, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 67 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springdale is 34.5% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Santa Fe has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,769 in Springdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Santa Fe's housing index is 153 with median homes at $480,000, while Springdale's is 86 with median homes at $299,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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