Question 1

Is Amarillo or Lubbock cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Amarillo, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $81/month less than in Lubbock, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,106/mo in Amarillo versus $1,175/mo in Lubbock.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Amarillo vs Lubbock?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $61,500/year before tax in Amarillo, TX and $63,000/year in Lubbock, TX — a difference of about $1,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Amarillo or Lubbock cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Amarillo, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,267/month in Amarillo and $8,446/month in Lubbock, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Amarillo or Lubbock?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Amarillo costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Amarillo67	Lubbock67
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,592	$3,673
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,267	$8,446
Salary for comfort	$61,500/yr	$63,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,106	$1,175
Median home value	$186,800	$197,900
Median household income	$62,469	$60,487
Unemployment	4.1%	4.5%
Housing score	91	83
Jobs score	57	57
Safety score	38	33
Climate score	97	98
Amenities score	13	29
Population	200.9K	261.1K
Summer high / winter low	91° / 23°	93° / 26°

Amarillo, TX vs Lubbock, TX