City Comparison

Santa Fe vs Tyler

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

Tyler

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$250,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$54,800
Median Income

The Verdict

37.6%

Living in Tyler costs 37.6% less than Santa Fe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Santa Fe, you would need $54,487 in Tyler.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
153
Santa Fe
69
Tyler
Groceries
103
Santa Fe
96
Tyler
Utilities
96
Santa Fe
97
Tyler
Transportation
99
Santa Fe
92
Tyler
Healthcare
95
Santa Fe
93
Tyler

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Santa Fe has the same purchasing power as $54,487 in Tyler.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tyler equals $103,235 in Santa Fe.

Living in Santa Fe vs Tyler

Housing Costs

Santa Fe's housing index of 153 is higher Tyler's 69, translating to median home prices of $480,000 vs $250,000. The $230,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,952 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Santa Fe compared to $1,075/mo in Tyler, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Santa Fe and 96 in Tyler. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Santa Fe vs $456/month in Tyler. Tyler offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Santa Fe and 97 in Tyler. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Santa Fe vs $388 in Tyler. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Santa Fe and 93 in Tyler. 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 $61,982 in Santa Fe and $54,800 in Tyler. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,976 and $64,471 respectively. Tyler 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 $1,279/month in Tyler. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Tyler, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 84 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tyler is 37.6% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Santa Fe has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,487 in Tyler, based on the cost of living difference.
Santa Fe's housing index is 153 with median homes at $480,000, while Tyler's is 69 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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