Quick answer
St. Louis costs $310/month less overall ($1,580 vs $1,890/mo). But Santa Fe's 4.9% state income tax erases some of that gap — on an $80K salary, the tax difference is $40/year.
City Comparison · 2026
Santa Fe vs St. Louis
Side-by-side on rent, home prices, taxes, walkability, jobs, and climate — with a straight verdict for each type of mover.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Santa Fe vs St. Louis at a Glance
| Metric | Santa Fe | St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Monthly Rent | $1,400 | $1,380 ✓ |
| 2BR Monthly Rent | $1,750 | $1,380 ✓ |
| Median Home Price | $650K | $215K ✓ |
| Avg Utilities/mo | $140 ✓ | $145 |
| Avg Groceries/mo | $350 | $335 ✓ |
| Monthly Cost (1BR) | $1,890 | $1,580 ✓ |
| Walk Score | 73/100 ✓ | 52/100 |
| Transit Score | 32/100 | 38/100 ✓ |
| State Income Tax | 4.9% ✓ | Up to 4.95% |
Monthly cost = 1BR rent + utilities + groceries for one person. ✓ marks the lower/better value.
Cost of Living: What the Numbers Actually Mean
Rent gap: St. Louis's 1BR averages $1,100/month vs $1,400 in Santa Fe — a $300/month difference, or $3,600/year. That's a meaningful gap worth factoring into your decision.
State tax: Santa Fe charges 4.9% state income tax vs Up to 4.95% in St. Louis. On an $80K salary that's a $40/year difference. On $120K, the gap grows to $5,940 vs $5,880 — important context if you're choosing between tech job offers.
Home buying: Median homes in St. Louis are $215K vs $650K in Santa Fe. At a 20% down payment, that's a $87,000 difference in upfront cash — significant at early-career savings rates.
Utilities: St. Louis utilities run $5 more per month than Santa Fe.
Walkability, Transit & Daily Life
Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe's walkability means you can genuinely live without a car in the right neighborhoods.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis is partially walkable in denser neighborhoods but car-dependent in most areas.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
Climate
Santa Fe
High desert with mild to warm summers (75°F average), cold winters (30°F average, 30 inches snow), intense sun, and low humidity (35%). Elevation 7,000 feet.
St. Louis
Four seasons; hot humid summers, cold winters with ice storms, severe thunderstorm season
Job Market
Santa Fe top industries
St. Louis top industries
Who Should Pick Which City
Move to Santa Fe if…
- →You're a Artists and creative professionals
- →You're a Retirees with substantial savings
- →You're a Remote workers seeking inspiration
- →You're a Wellness and spirituality seekers
- →You want to live without a car
Move to St. Louis if…
- →You're a healthcare workers
- →You're a remote workers
- →You're a value-seekers
- →You're a manufacturing professionals
- →You're buying a home and want more for your money
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Fe or St. Louis cheaper to live in?
St. Louis is cheaper overall. Monthly costs (1BR rent + utilities + groceries) run $1,580 in St. Louis vs $1,890 in Santa Fe — a $310/month difference.
Which city is more walkable — Santa Fe or St. Louis?
Santa Fe is more walkable with a Walk Score of 73/100 vs 52/100. St. Louis is more car-dependent.
Santa Fe vs St. Louis: which has lower state income tax?
Santa Fe has lower state income tax (4.9%). On an $80K salary, that saves $40/year vs St. Louis (Up to 4.95%).
Is Santa Fe or St. Louis better for buying a home?
St. Louis has lower median home prices at $215K vs $650K in Santa Fe — a $435,000 difference on the median home.