Amarillo vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Great Falls
The Verdict
Amarillo is 15.9% less expensive than Great Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $89,189 in Great Falls 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 $89,189 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $63,068 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $325,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $470/month in Great Falls. 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 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $63,409 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 $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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