City Comparison

Amarillo vs Sioux Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

Sioux Falls

South Dakota
93
Below Average
$265,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$61,714
Median Income

The Verdict

20.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 20.4%, with Amarillo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to $94,257 in Sioux Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
80
Sioux Falls
Groceries
92
Amarillo
97
Sioux Falls
Utilities
94
Amarillo
94
Sioux Falls
Transportation
75
Amarillo
98
Sioux Falls
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
101
Sioux Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $94,257 in Sioux Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $59,677 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Sioux Falls

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $265,000. The $70,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,548 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 101 in Sioux Falls. 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 $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $66,359 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 $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 20.4% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,257 in Sioux Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Sioux Falls's is 80 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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