Amarillo vs Durham
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Durham
The Verdict
Amarillo is 26.7% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $102,365 in Durham 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 $102,365 in Durham.
Conversely, $75,000 in Durham equals $54,950 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Durham
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Durham's 104, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $340,000. The $145,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,420 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,400/mo in Durham, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 100 in Durham. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $475/month in Durham. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 93 in Durham. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $372 in Durham. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 108 in Durham. 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 $57,738 in Durham. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $57,166 respectively. Amarillo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,365/month to housing in Amarillo vs $1,347/month in Durham. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 45 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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