Amarillo vs Hillsboro
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Hillsboro
The Verdict
Amarillo is 42.2% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $129,730 in Hillsboro 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 $129,730 in Hillsboro.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $43,359 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Hillsboro
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $533,000. The $338,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $750.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $513/month in Hillsboro. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 103 in Hillsboro. 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $83,359 respectively. Hillsboro residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,365/month to housing in Amarillo vs $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 116 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases