City Comparison

Alexandria vs Amarillo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Amarillo

Texas
74
Very Affordable
$195,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$58,500
Median Income

The Verdict

95.9%

The cost gap between these cities is 95.9%, with Amarillo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $38,276 in Amarillo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
201
Alexandria
59
Amarillo
Groceries
113
Alexandria
92
Amarillo
Utilities
97
Alexandria
94
Amarillo
Transportation
107
Alexandria
75
Amarillo
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
104
Amarillo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $38,276 in Amarillo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Amarillo equals $146,959 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Amarillo

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Amarillo's 59, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $195,000. The $395,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,680 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $975/mo in Amarillo, a monthly difference of $1,150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 92 in Amarillo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $437/month in Amarillo. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1200/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 94 in Amarillo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $376 in Amarillo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 104 in Amarillo. 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 $119,700 in Alexandria and $58,500 in Amarillo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $79,054 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,365/month in Amarillo. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 142 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 95.9% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $38,276 in Amarillo, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Amarillo's is 59 with median homes at $195,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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