Amarillo vs Bismarck
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Bismarck
The Verdict
Amarillo is 22.1% less expensive than Bismarck overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $96,284 in Bismarck to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $96,284 in Bismarck.
Conversely, $75,000 in Bismarck equals $58,421 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Bismarck
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Bismarck's 90, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $348,000. The $153,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,100/mo in Bismarck, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 99 in Bismarck. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $470/month in Bismarck. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 82 in Bismarck. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $328 in Bismarck. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 103 in Bismarck. 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 $58,500 in Amarillo and $77,600 in Bismarck. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $81,684 respectively. Bismarck residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,365/month to housing in Amarillo vs $1,811/month in Bismarck. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Bismarck, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases