Amarillo vs Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Amarillo
Tuscaloosa
The Verdict
Amarillo is 16.9% less expensive than Tuscaloosa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $90,203 in Tuscaloosa 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 $90,203 in Tuscaloosa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tuscaloosa equals $62,360 in Amarillo.
Living in Amarillo vs Tuscaloosa
Housing Costs
Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Tuscaloosa's 74, 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 $1,050/mo in Tuscaloosa, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 98 in Tuscaloosa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $466/month in Tuscaloosa. Amarillo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 96 in Tuscaloosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $384 in Tuscaloosa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 87 in Tuscaloosa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $58,500 in Amarillo and $49,500 in Tuscaloosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $55,618 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 $1,155/month in Tuscaloosa. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Tuscaloosa, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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