Amarillo vs Austin
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Amarillo
Austin
💡 The Verdict
Amarillo is 13% cheaper than Austin overall. A $75,000 salary in Amarillo is equivalent to $86,290 in Austin.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Amarillo (left) vs Austin (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Amarillo versus Austin. Differences shown from Amarillo perspective.
| Item | Amarillo | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $990/mo | $1,280/mo | $-290.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,380/mo | $1,700/mo | $-320.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,790/mo | $2,180/mo | $-390.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.55 | $2.33 | +$0.22 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.39 | $4.02 | $-0.63 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.29 | $2.51 | +$0.78 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.63 | $5.16 | +$0.47 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.11 | $3.41 | $-0.30 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.55 | $14.80 | +$1.75 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $86,290 in Austin.
Conversely, $75,000 in Austin equals $65,187 in Amarillo.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. Texas details → · Texas details →
Reading These Numbers: Amarillo (93) vs Austin (107)
Amarillo at 93 is 7% below the US average, while Austin at 107 is 7% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Amarillo, the composite index of 93 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 97, followed by groceries (90), utilities (95), transportation (95), and healthcare (98). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,380/mo in Amarillo and $1,700/mo in Austin, the annual rent difference is approximately $3,840.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $19,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $128,000.0 difference in median home prices between Amarillo and Austin translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Amarillo vs Austin
Choosing between Amarillo and Austin involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Amarillo against Austin, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.