Amarillo vs St Cloud
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
St Cloud
The Verdict
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
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
Moving & Relocation Resources
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