Amarillo vs Plano
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Plano
The Verdict
Living in Amarillo costs 32.1% less than Plano. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Amarillo, you would need $110,473 in Plano.
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 $110,473 in Plano.
Conversely, $75,000 in Plano equals $50,917 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Plano
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Plano's 123, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $400,000. The $205,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,320 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,700/mo in Plano, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 98 in Plano. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $466/month in Plano. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 99 in Plano. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $396 in Plano. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 100 in Plano. 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 $96,348 in Plano. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $88,393 respectively. Plano 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 $2,248/month in Plano. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Plano, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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