Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Amarillo, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Amarillo, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,715 per month in Austin, TX vs $2,261 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,156 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,532 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,596 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,804 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

Austin, TX costs about 20% more than Amarillo, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Austin, TX and Amarillo, TX sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 98%, Amarillo, TX by 65%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$15.18 $15.18

29.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$66.6 $66.6

27.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.88 $12.88

-4.50%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$6.91 $6.91

-21.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.29 $2.29

58.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.59 $1.59

51.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$3.98 $3.98

98.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$6.91 $6.91

28.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.21 $1.21

-11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.28 $3.28

12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.42 $3.42

-2.34%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$4.28 $4.28

0.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$16.23 $16.23

-19.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$12.42 $12.42

14.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$28.11 $28.11

-40.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.17 $4.17

7.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.87 $1.87

-24.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.72 $4.72

-2.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.81 $3.81

22.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.16 $2.16

25.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.91 $2.91

-11.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.66 $1.66

13.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.49 $2.49

-12.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$9.30 $9.30

7.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.05 $12.05

25.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.15 $2.15

35.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.04 $2.04

61.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.99 $0.99

54.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.81 $0.81

9.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K $36.4K

$28.2K $28.2K

28.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.9K $24.9K

8.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$223 $223

$288 $288

-22.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.4 $57.4

$52.0 $52.0

10.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$87.2 $87.2

-21.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$59.7 $59.7

9.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$10.03 $10.03

39.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,523 $1,523

$695 $695

119.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$36.89 $36.89

43.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$58.8 $58.8

44.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$121 $121

-15.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,124 $1,124

73.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$956 $956

32.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$1,845 $1,845

104.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$1,930 $1,930

32.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$1,693 $1,693

324.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,879 $1,879

67.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$3,745 $3,745

32.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.1

6.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Amarillo, TX: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,124 in Amarillo, 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 32% 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 $85.0 in Austin, TX versus $67.0 in Amarillo, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $409 in Austin, TX vs $429 in Amarillo, 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

Austin, TX vs Amarillo, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX, $2,261 in Amarillo, TX – roughly 20% apart. Austin, TX costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,072 per month in Austin, TX and $3,391 in Amarillo, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Austin, TX and $67.0 in Amarillo, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Austin, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Amarillo, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,261, than in Austin, TX at $2,715. In Amarillo, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.