City Comparison

Amarillo vs Fort Lauderdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

Fort Lauderdale

Florida
122
Expensive
$380,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$54,468
Median Income

The Verdict

39.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 39.3%, with Amarillo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to $123,649 in Fort Lauderdale.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
155
Fort Lauderdale
Groceries
92
Amarillo
106
Fort Lauderdale
Utilities
94
Amarillo
96
Fort Lauderdale
Transportation
75
Amarillo
108
Fort Lauderdale
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
99
Fort Lauderdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $123,649 in Fort Lauderdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Lauderdale equals $45,492 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Fort Lauderdale

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Fort Lauderdale's 155, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $380,000. The $185,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,024 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale, a monthly difference of $1,025.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 106 in Fort Lauderdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $504/month in Fort Lauderdale. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 96 in Fort Lauderdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $384 in Fort Lauderdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 99 in Fort Lauderdale. 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 $54,468 in Fort Lauderdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $44,646 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 $1,271/month in Fort Lauderdale. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 96 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 39.3% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $123,649 in Fort Lauderdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Fort Lauderdale's is 155 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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