Amarillo vs Fort Collins
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Fort Collins
The Verdict
Amarillo is 36.2% less expensive than Fort Collins overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $117,568 in Fort Collins 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 $117,568 in Fort Collins.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Collins equals $47,845 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Fort Collins
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Fort Collins's 142, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $531,000. The $336,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,840 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,625/mo in Fort Collins, a monthly difference of $650.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 100 in Fort Collins. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $475/month in Fort Collins. 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 87 in Fort Collins. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $348 in Fort Collins. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 97 in Fort Collins. 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 $74,800 in Fort Collins. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $64,483 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 $1,745/month in Fort Collins. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 83 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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