City Comparison

Amarillo vs Richmond

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

Richmond

Virginia
103
Average
$300,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$50,120
Median Income

The Verdict

28.2%

Amarillo is 28.2% less expensive than Richmond overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $104,392 in Richmond to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
108
Richmond
Groceries
92
Amarillo
100
Richmond
Utilities
94
Amarillo
97
Richmond
Transportation
75
Amarillo
100
Richmond
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
100
Richmond

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $104,392 in Richmond.

Conversely, $75,000 in Richmond equals $53,883 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Richmond

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Richmond's 108, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $300,000. The $105,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,828 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,400/mo in Richmond, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 100 in Richmond. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $475/month in Richmond. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 97 in Richmond. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $388 in Richmond. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 100 in Richmond. 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 $50,120 in Richmond. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $48,660 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 $1,169/month in Richmond. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Richmond, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 28.2% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,392 in Richmond, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Richmond's is 108 with median homes at $300,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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