2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Fe, NM vs Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea or is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea is 35.6% more expensive than Santa Fe.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carmel-by-the-Sea or Santa Fe?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea housing costs are 304.5% more expensive than Santa Fe housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Fe or is Health Care more affordable in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Health related expenses are 74.8% more in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
 Santa Fe, NMCarmel-by-the-Sea, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries101.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing161.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,916,200$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.7100
 Miscellaneous107.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Santa Fe    55 Reviews

I’ve recently moved to Santa Fe from Colorado. I love Santa Fe for various reasons… mostly because of the tricultural aspects of it. We have amazing Native American,  More

   |    Reply

Over 6 years ago

Bought a house here in 2013 and split my time here with other house in Adirondack Mountains of NYS. Santa Fe is great, but not perfect. Love the climate. 306 days of  More

   |    Reply

Over 6 years ago

The only 2 things about Santa Fe that are nice is the scenery and the weather. But, those two things cannot bring about the total comfort and homeyness that makes a city  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Fe

Reviews for Carmel-By-The-Sea    3 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

Climate, cost &  More

   |    Reply

carmel has about 60 vacation homes and a dense cottage-y downtown. basically it is a tourist trap cental business district and a bunch of vacation rental homes. the  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

Liberals have run me out of town. The political is so overwhelming I am looking to relocate. However, if you are an aging hippie with a great deal of money you will be  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Carmel-By-The-Sea


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.