Amarillo vs Charleston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Charleston
The Verdict
Amarillo is 32.7% less expensive than Charleston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $111,486 in Charleston 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 $111,486 in Charleston.
Conversely, $75,000 in Charleston equals $50,455 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Charleston
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Charleston's 127, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $380,000. The $185,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,024 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,600/mo in Charleston, a monthly difference of $625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 102 in Charleston. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $485/month in Charleston. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 99 in Charleston. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $396 in Charleston. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 104 in Charleston. 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 $65,872 in Charleston. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $59,884 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 $1,537/month in Charleston. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Charleston, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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