CostIndexUSA

Amarillo, TX vs Bellingham, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Amarillo
91.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Amarillo is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 12.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Amarillo, you would need $90,000 in Bellingham. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+44.0%
Amarillo
78.4
Bellingham
112.9
🛒 Groceries+11.9%
Amarillo
93.8
Bellingham
105
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Amarillo
101.1
Bellingham
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Amarillo
91.4
Bellingham
94.5
Utilities+19.6%
Amarillo
83.5
Bellingham
99.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Bellingham, WA
$90,000
$10,000 more needed in Bellingham

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 1.1253. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Amarillo, TX

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

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Bellingham has 44.0% higher housing costs compared to Amarillo.

Income & Job Market

Amarillo, TX

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

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Affordability at a Glance

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

Amarillo, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.