CostIndexUSA

Amarillo, TX vs El Paso, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Amarillo
91.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
More AffordableTX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

El Paso is slightly cheaper than Amarillo — 2.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Amarillo, you would need $78,300 in El Paso. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.2%
Amarillo
78.4
El Paso
71.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Amarillo
93.8
El Paso
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Amarillo
101.1
El Paso
101.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Amarillo
91.4
El Paso
91.4
Utilities1.1%
Amarillo
83.5
El Paso
82.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in El Paso, TX
$78,300
$1,700 less needed in El Paso

Formula: salary × (89.9 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 0.9793. 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×

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Amarillo has 9.2% lower housing costs compared to El Paso.

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

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

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)

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.