CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Amarillo, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Amarillo
91.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Amarillo is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $76,900 in Amarillo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing12.1%
Albuquerque
89.2
Amarillo
78.4
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Albuquerque
96.1
Amarillo
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.3%
Albuquerque
103.5
Amarillo
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.4%
Albuquerque
93.6
Amarillo
91.4
Utilities+7.2%
Albuquerque
77.9
Amarillo
83.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Amarillo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Amarillo, TX
$76,900
$3,100 less needed in Amarillo

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9613. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Amarillo, TX

Median Home Price
$211,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,225
Housing Index
78.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.4×

Albuquerque has 12.1% lower housing costs compared to Amarillo.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Amarillo, TX

Median Household Income
$64,000
Per Capita Income
$36,500
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
200,393
Top Industries
AgricultureEnergyHealthcareManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Amarillo, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.