Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Santa Fe, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Santa Fe, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,872 in Santa Fe, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,137 in Santa Fe, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,402 in Santa Fe, NM.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 7% less than in Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Santa Fe, NM 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$17.23 $17.23

13.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$81.4 $81.4

-7.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.88 $9.88

0.40%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.44 $5.44

4.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.74 $2.74

1.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.79 $1.79

21.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.03 $6.03

-3.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.89 $6.89

12.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.01 $3.01

13.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.27 $3.27

4.89%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.52 $4.52

-2.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.64 $12.64

-5.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$10.41 $10.41

3.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$19.89 $19.89

-28.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.74 $4.74

2.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.41 $1.41

9.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.72 $3.72

19.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.45 $4.45

-12.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.37 $2.37

15.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.54 $2.54

7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.05 $2.05

-0.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.30 $2.30

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.90 $9.90

-9.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$16.25 $16.25

-8.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.82 $2.82

26.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.41 $3.41

25.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.81 $1.81

1.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.45 $29.45

20.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.79 $0.79

-8.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$28.6K $28.6K

-10.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$174 $174

$181 $181

-4.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$44.14 $44.14

36.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$67.4 $67.4

-1.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$85.2 $85.2

-26.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.79 $13.79

10.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,387 $1,387

$1,246 $1,246

11.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$15.5K $15.5K

43.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$54.0 $54.0

4.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$50.8 $50.8

-10.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$89.1 $89.1

-2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$102 $102

17.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$2,154 $2,154

4.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,669 $1,669

-14.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$4,340 $4,340

-12.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,563 $2,563

3.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$6,735 $6,735

4.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$4,052 $4,052

-21.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,722 $3,722

37.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Santa Fe, NM: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $2,154 in Santa Fe, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Santa Fe, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $385 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Santa Fe, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Santa Fe, NM. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $2,154 in Santa Fe, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,246 in Santa Fe, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $81.0 in Santa Fe, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Santa Fe, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.