City Comparison

Amarillo vs Fayetteville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

Fayetteville

Arkansas
90
Below Average
$332,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$59,100
Median Income

The Verdict

17.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 17.8%, with Amarillo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to $91,216 in Fayetteville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
94
Fayetteville
Groceries
92
Amarillo
92
Fayetteville
Utilities
94
Amarillo
98
Fayetteville
Transportation
75
Amarillo
95
Fayetteville
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
78
Fayetteville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $91,216 in Fayetteville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $61,667 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Fayetteville

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Fayetteville's 94, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $332,000. The $137,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,904 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,025/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 92 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $437/month in Fayetteville. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $392 in Fayetteville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 78 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 26-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 $59,100 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $65,667 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 $1,379/month in Fayetteville. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 17.8% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,216 in Fayetteville, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Fayetteville's is 94 with median homes at $332,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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