City Comparison

Amarillo vs Lansing

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

Lansing

Michigan
84
Very Affordable
$158,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$54,400
Median Income

The Verdict

11.9%

Amarillo is 11.9% less expensive than Lansing overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $85,135 in Lansing to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
53
Lansing
Groceries
92
Amarillo
89
Lansing
Utilities
94
Amarillo
104
Lansing
Transportation
75
Amarillo
111
Lansing
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
93
Lansing

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $85,135 in Lansing.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lansing equals $66,071 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Lansing

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is higher Lansing's 53, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $158,000. The $37,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,400 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,050/mo in Lansing, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 89 in Lansing. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $423/month in Lansing. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 104 in Lansing. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $416 in Lansing. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 93 in Lansing. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $54,400 in Lansing. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $64,762 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 $1,269/month in Lansing. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Lansing, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 36 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 11.9% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,135 in Lansing, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Lansing's is 53 with median homes at $158,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases