Amarillo vs Sugar Land
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Sugar Land
The Verdict
Amarillo is 32.7% less expensive than Sugar Land overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $111,486 in Sugar Land to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $111,486 in Sugar Land.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $50,455 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Sugar Land
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $456,000. The $261,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,968 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $650.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $470/month in Sugar Land. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,365/month to housing in Amarillo vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 69 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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