Amarillo, TX vs McAllen, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

McAllen, TX has a modeled overall cost index 1.4% lower than Amarillo, TX.

Amarillo, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,165 / month
McAllen, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,240 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Amarillo, TX and McAllen, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Amarillo, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $25.92/month in McAllen, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,311 in McAllen, TX

Regional cost estimates: Amarillo, TX uses Lubbock, TX. McAllen, TX uses Laredo, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.4%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$25.92

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$311

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Amarillo, TX

Population:202K

Cost Index:

93.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$165K

McAllen, TX

Population:147K

Cost Index:

91.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$191K

Planning the move to McAllen?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Amarillo, TX

The Lone Star State

202K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 202K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

McAllen, TX

The Lone Star State

147K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 147K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Amarillo, TX vs McAllen, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Amarillo, TX	McAllen, TX	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,219/mo	$2,013/mo	↓ $206less	9.3%
Transportation	$1,415/mo	$1,530/mo	↑ $115more	8.1%
Other	$1,753/mo	$1,855/mo	↑ $102more	5.8%
All Utilities	$532/mo	$550/mo	↑ $18.35more	3.5%
Healthcare	$576/mo	$561/mo	↓ $14.46less	2.5%
Groceries	$1,005/mo	$1,017/mo	↑ $11.96more	1.2%

Housing

↓ 9.3%

Amarillo, TX

$2,219

McAllen, TX

$2,013

Difference

$206

less

Transportation

↑ 8.1%

Amarillo, TX

$1,415

McAllen, TX

$1,530

Difference

$115

Other

↑ 5.8%

Amarillo, TX

$1,753

McAllen, TX

$1,855

Difference

$102

All Utilities

↑ 3.5%

Amarillo, TX

$532

McAllen, TX

$550

Difference

$18.35

Healthcare

↓ 2.5%

Amarillo, TX

$576

McAllen, TX

$561

Difference

$14.46

less

Groceries

↑ 1.2%

Amarillo, TX

$1,005

McAllen, TX

$1,017

Difference

$11.96

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$820

To$980

↑ $160

1 Bed

From$950

To$990

↑ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,165

To$1,240

↑ $75.00

3 Bed

From$1,585

To$1,610

↑ $25.00

Amarillo, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$1,110/mo

McAllen, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$1,050/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Amarillo, TX

$7,526

Monthly in McAllen, TX

$25.92

Difference

Home Values

Amarillo

McAllen

$165K

Median Value

$191K

↑ +1.3%

YoY Change

↓ -2.1%

↑ +32.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.3%

$106K - $375K

Price Range

$178K - $260K

Homes in McAllen are 16% more expensive than Amarillo

Calculate payment - Amarillo Calculate payment - McAllen

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Amarillo, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

McAllen, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Amarillo, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

McAllen, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Amarillo

McAllen

23 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

92.2%

Good Air Days

57.7%

96 High

Climate Risk

89 Moderate

☀🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌡

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

78 days

Heat Days >95°F

151 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

78 days

Heat Days >95°F

151 days

Before moving from Amarillo, TX to McAllen, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in McAllen, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Amarillo, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Amarillo to McAllen moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to McAllen, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Amarillo, TX vs McAllen, TX

How do the cost estimates for Amarillo, TX and McAllen, TX compare?

McAllen, TX has a modeled overall cost index 1.4% lower than Amarillo, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Amarillo, TX, the model estimates $150,311 in McAllen, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Amarillo, TX and McAllen, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,165/month in Amarillo, TX and $1,240/month in McAllen, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.