Amarillo vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Lakewood
The Verdict
Amarillo is 44.4% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $134,797 in Lakewood 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 $134,797 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $41,729 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $574,000. The $379,000 difference in home prices means roughly $24,636 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $875.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $480/month in Lakewood. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $340 in Lakewood. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-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 $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $63,008 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 $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 129 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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