Amarillo vs Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Cedar Rapids
The Verdict
Amarillo is 9.8% less expensive than Cedar Rapids overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $83,108 in Cedar Rapids 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 $83,108 in Cedar Rapids.
Conversely, $75,000 in Cedar Rapids equals $67,683 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Cedar Rapids
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Cedar Rapids's 65, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $195,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $925/mo in Cedar Rapids, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 99 in Cedar Rapids. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $470/month in Cedar Rapids. 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 95 in Cedar Rapids. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $380 in Cedar Rapids. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 102 in Cedar Rapids. 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 $70,400 in Cedar Rapids. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $85,854 respectively. Cedar Rapids 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 $1,643/month in Cedar Rapids. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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