City Comparison

Amarillo vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

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

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

The Verdict

17.8%

Living in Amarillo costs 17.8% less than St Cloud. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Amarillo, you would need $91,216 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Amarillo
82
St Cloud
Groceries
92
Amarillo
101
St Cloud
Utilities
94
Amarillo
95
St Cloud
Transportation
75
Amarillo
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $91,216 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $61,667 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $250,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $480/month in St Cloud. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 100 in St Cloud. 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 $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $66,889 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 $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 17.8% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,216 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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