City Comparison

Amarillo vs Racine

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

Racine

Wisconsin
88
Below Average
$126,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$57,700
Median Income

The Verdict

15.9%

Living in Amarillo costs 15.9% less than Racine. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Amarillo, you would need $89,189 in Racine.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
66
Racine
Groceries
92
Amarillo
97
Racine
Utilities
94
Amarillo
94
Racine
Transportation
75
Amarillo
90
Racine
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
111
Racine

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $89,189 in Racine.

Conversely, $75,000 in Racine equals $63,068 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Racine

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Racine's 66, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $126,000. The $69,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,488 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,025/mo in Racine, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 97 in Racine. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $461/month in Racine. 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 94 in Racine. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $376 in Racine. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 111 in Racine. 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 $57,700 in Racine. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $65,568 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 $1,346/month in Racine. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Racine, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 15.9% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,189 in Racine, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Racine's is 66 with median homes at $126,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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