Amarillo vs San Francisco: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Amarillo, Texas compare to San Francisco, California? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Amarillo is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 87% lower in Amarillo compared to San Francisco, while rent is 57% lower. TX has no state income tax.
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $1,348,700 | -87.2% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $2,316 | -57.0% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $136,689 | -55.6% |
| Per Capita Income | $33,559 | $86,186 | -61.1% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | None | 13.3% | -100.0% |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.2% | 8.7% | -5.5% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 200,360 | 851,036 | -76.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Amarillo
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — San Francisco
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Amarillo costs $172,700 compared to $1,348,700 in San Francisco — a 87% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $997/mo in Amarillo vs $2,316/mo in San Francisco.
- Income: Median household income is $60,628 in Amarillo and $136,689 in San Francisco.
- Taxes: Texas has no state income tax, while California has a 13.3% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).