🙂A single person spends $2,182 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $2,707 in Austin, TX, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,356 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $4,158 in Austin, TX, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,531 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $5,608 in Austin, TX, rent included.
🙂Amarillo, TX is about 19% cheaper than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Amarillo, TX and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Amarillo, TX by 62%, Austin, TX by 101%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.76$14.76
$19.50$19.50
-24.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7$70.7
$75.3$75.3
-6.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.18$13.18
$9.88$9.88
33.40%
Cappuccino
$5.53$5.53
$5.74$5.74
-3.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$2.78$2.78
-27.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$2.13$2.13
-4.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40$3.40
$6.11$6.11
-44.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96$6.96
$7.86$7.86
-11.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12$1.12
$1.09$1.09
2.75%
White Bread(500g)
$4.06$4.06
$3.44$3.44
18.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17$3.17
$3.31$3.31
-4.23%
Eggs
$4.44$4.44
$4.29$4.29
3.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.13$18.13
$11.98$11.98
51.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.82$11.82
$10.74$10.74
10.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18$17.18
$14.79$14.79
16.16%
Apples(1kg)
$4.24$4.24
$5.00$5.00
-15.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03$2.03
$1.49$1.49
36.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.62$4.62
$4.43$4.43
4.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.58$3.58
$3.95$3.95
-9.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26$2.26
$2.75$2.75
-17.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.71$2.71
$2.73$2.73
-0.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46$1.46
$2.04$2.04
-28.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60$2.60
$2.26$2.26
15.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94$8.94
$9.09$9.09
-1.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.07$12.07
$14.99$14.99
-19.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$2.35$2.35
-12.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91$2.91
$3.54$3.54
-17.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99$0.99
$1.49$1.49
-33.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$44.05$44.05
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.42$3.42
$4.47$4.47
-23.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$1.76$1.76
-6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.62$29.62
$34.44$34.44
-14.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71$0.71
$0.74$0.74
-4.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K$19.3K
$25.6K$25.6K
-24.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K$23.2K
$26.7K$26.7K
-13.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231$231
$172$172
34.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.6$51.6
$59.3$59.3
-12.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.7$77.7
$66.5$66.5
16.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.09$20.09
$63.1$63.1
-68.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17$10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.89$9.89
$15.28$15.28
-35.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$707$707
$1,406$1,406
-49.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$22.0K$22.0K
5.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.67$49.67
$56.4$56.4
-12.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.70$40.70
$45.72$45.72
-10.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3$68.3
$86.0$86.0
-20.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2$86.2
$118$118
-26.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,175$1,175
$2,196$2,196
-46.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$952$952
$1,434$1,434
-33.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,993$1,993
$3,878$3,878
-48.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,976$1,976
$2,610$2,610
-24.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,690$1,690
$7,228$7,228
-76.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,886$1,886
$3,282$3,282
-42.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amarillo, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,738$3,738
$4,984$4,984
-25.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
6.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amarillo, TX: April 12, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,175 in Amarillo, TX versus $2,196 in Austin, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 33% higher in Austin, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Amarillo, TX versus $75 in Austin, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $406 in Amarillo, TX vs $379 in Austin, TX – so Austin, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Amarillo, TX vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Amarillo, TX and Austin, TX compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,182 in Amarillo, TX, $2,707 in Austin, TX – roughly 24% apart. Austin, TX costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Amarillo, TX compared to Austin, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,272 per month in Amarillo, TX and $4,061 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Amarillo, TX and Austin, TX?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Amarillo, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Amarillo, TX and $75.0 in Austin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Austin, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Amarillo, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,182, than in Austin, TX at $2,707. In Amarillo, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Amarillo, TX or Austin, TX?
Families tend to lean toward Amarillo, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Amarillo, TX and Austin, TX?
If budget matters most, go with Amarillo, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Austin, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Amarillo, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared