Santa Fe vs Yuma
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Santa Fe
Yuma
The Verdict
Living in Yuma costs 27.2% less than Santa Fe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Santa Fe, you would need $58,974 in Yuma.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Santa Fe has the same purchasing power as $58,974 in Yuma.
Conversely, $75,000 in Yuma equals $95,380 in Santa Fe.
Living in Santa Fe vs Yuma
Housing Costs
Santa Fe's housing index of 153 is higher Yuma's 82, translating to median home prices of $480,000 vs $284,000. The $196,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,744 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Santa Fe compared to $1,100/mo in Yuma, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Santa Fe and 101 in Yuma. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Santa Fe vs $480/month in Yuma. 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 96 in Santa Fe and 102 in Yuma. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Santa Fe vs $408 in Yuma. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in Santa Fe and 87 in Yuma. 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 $54,100 in Yuma. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,976 and $58,804 respectively. Yuma 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 $1,262/month in Yuma. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Yuma, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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