CostIndexUSA

Amarillo, TX vs Birmingham, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostTX
Amarillo
91.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
AL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Amarillo and Birmingham have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.3%
Amarillo
78.4
Birmingham
71.9
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Amarillo
93.8
Birmingham
96.4
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Amarillo
101.1
Birmingham
101.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Amarillo
91.4
Birmingham
91.9
Utilities≈ Equal
Amarillo
83.5
Birmingham
83.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Birmingham, AL
$79,800
$200 less needed in Birmingham

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 0.9978. 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×

Birmingham, AL

Median Home Price
$252,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
71.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Amarillo has 8.3% lower housing costs compared to Birmingham.

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

Birmingham, AL

Median Household Income
$69,300
Per Capita Income
$39,500
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
212,237
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducationGovernment

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)

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.