Amarillo vs Fort Wayne
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Fort Wayne
The Verdict
Amarillo is 9.8% less expensive than Fort Wayne overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $83,108 in Fort Wayne 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 $83,108 in Fort Wayne.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Wayne equals $67,683 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Fort Wayne
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is higher Fort Wayne's 57, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $195,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $950/mo in Fort Wayne, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 99 in Fort Wayne. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $470/month in Fort Wayne. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 93 in Fort Wayne. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $372 in Fort Wayne. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 96 in Fort Wayne. 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 $54,600 in Fort Wayne. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $66,585 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 $1,274/month in Fort Wayne. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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