City Comparison

Amarillo vs Cambridge

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

Cambridge

Massachusetts
178
Very Expensive
$890,000
Median Home
$3,100/mo
Median Rent
$103,154
Median Income

The Verdict

58.4%

Living in Amarillo costs 58.4% less than Cambridge. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Amarillo, you would need $180,405 in Cambridge.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
280
Cambridge
Groceries
92
Amarillo
110
Cambridge
Utilities
94
Amarillo
126
Cambridge
Transportation
75
Amarillo
105
Cambridge
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
118
Cambridge

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $180,405 in Cambridge.

Conversely, $75,000 in Cambridge equals $31,180 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Cambridge

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Cambridge's 280, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $890,000. The $695,000 difference in home prices means roughly $45,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $3,100/mo in Cambridge, a monthly difference of $2,125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 110 in Cambridge. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $523/month in Cambridge. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1032/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 126 in Cambridge. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $504 in Cambridge. 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 118 in Cambridge. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $58,500 in Amarillo and $103,154 in Cambridge. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $57,952 respectively. Amarillo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,365/month to housing in Amarillo vs $2,407/month in Cambridge. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 221 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 58.4% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $180,405 in Cambridge, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Cambridge's is 280 with median homes at $890,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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