Amarillo vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
St. Paul
The Verdict
Living in Amarillo costs 26.0% less than St. Paul. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Amarillo, you would need $101,351 in St. Paul.
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 $101,351 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $55,500 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $260,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $489/month in St. Paul. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 105 in St. Paul. 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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $57,718 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 39 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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