Amarillo vs Fayetteville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Fayetteville
The Verdict
Amarillo is 8.6% less expensive than Fayetteville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $82,095 in Fayetteville 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 $82,095 in Fayetteville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $68,519 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Fayetteville
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is higher Fayetteville's 52, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $213,000. The $18,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,075/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 94 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $447/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 106 in Fayetteville. 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 $49,800 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $61,481 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 $1,162/month in Fayetteville. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 7 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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