Amarillo vs Elgin
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Elgin
The Verdict
Amarillo is 22.1% less expensive than Elgin overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $96,284 in Elgin 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 Elgin.
Conversely, $75,000 in Elgin equals $58,421 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Elgin
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Elgin's 89, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $279,000. The $84,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,460 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,375/mo in Elgin, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 104 in Elgin. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $494/month in Elgin. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 89 in Elgin. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $356 in Elgin. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 105 in Elgin. 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 $90,300 in Elgin. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $95,053 respectively. Elgin 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 $2,107/month in Elgin. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Elgin, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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