City Comparison

Santa Fe vs Springfield

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

Springfield

Missouri
84
Very Affordable
$225,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$46,000
Median Income

The Verdict

39.3%

Living in Springfield costs 39.3% less than Santa Fe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Santa Fe, you would need $53,846 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
153
Santa Fe
67
Springfield
Groceries
103
Santa Fe
94
Springfield
Utilities
96
Santa Fe
79
Springfield
Transportation
99
Santa Fe
90
Springfield
Healthcare
95
Santa Fe
116
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Santa Fe has the same purchasing power as $53,846 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $104,464 in Santa Fe.

Living in Santa Fe vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Santa Fe's housing index of 153 is higher Springfield's 67, translating to median home prices of $480,000 vs $225,000. The $255,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,572 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Santa Fe compared to $950/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Santa Fe and 94 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Santa Fe vs $447/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Santa Fe and 79 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Santa Fe vs $316 in Springfield. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Santa Fe and 116 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-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 $46,000 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,976 and $54,762 respectively. Springfield 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 $1,073/month in Springfield. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 86 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 39.3% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Santa Fe has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $53,846 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Santa Fe's housing index is 153 with median homes at $480,000, while Springfield's is 67 with median homes at $225,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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