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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 40 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 40 cities in Texas using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Amaril…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 40 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 40 cities in Texas using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Amarillo comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
One more thing before the rankings — this context changes everything: 40 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 40 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. This is one of those rare cities where the math works from every angle.
What does daily life actually cost in Amarillo? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 73) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 92) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $62,469 and homes at $202,835 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — worth pausing on — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Amarillo ($1,245/mo, 15%), Mcallen ($1,272/mo, 15%), Beaumont ($1,275/mo, 15%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $75,297 to $75,297/year across these top picks.
Digging deeper, Across Texas, the average cost of living index is 99 — 13 points below the national median. Known for no income tax, massive metros, and wide-open affordability, the state offers 40 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,536/month. That's $359 less than the national average of $1,895. That's an underrated factor in the decision.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Amarillo — cost index 89, rent $1,245/mo, income $62,469
40 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
40 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
202,408 residents · Texas
Here's Amarillo by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 89. Rent: $1,245/month — make of that what you will — . Income: $62,469/year. Home price: $202,835. Population: 202,408. The strongest category is Housing at 73; the most expensive is Healthcare at 92. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,800 per year vs. the national median. If you're a planner, this number should anchor your spreadsheet.
146,593 residents · Texas
Real talk: the #2 spot goes to Mcallen, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,272/month — saving renters $7,476 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 77, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 93. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
112,193 residents · Texas
So, Beaumont. Cost index of 88, rent at $1,275/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $57,530, which is below the national median. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. No major red flags in that number.
159,643 residents · Texas
Why Killeen ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. And on balance, at 90 on the cost index, residents save roughly 22% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,280/month while the median household pulls in $58,339/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 76, though Healthcare (93) lags behind. Home prices average $218,425 — $248,945 below the national median.
110,327 residents · Texas
Tyler earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 92 cost index sits 20 points below the national baseline, and the $65,527 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $248,536 — $218,834 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 80, while Healthcare trails at 95.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 40 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The race is tight: Amarillo, Mcallen, Beaumont, Killeen, Tyler are all within 3 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
Rent in #1-ranked Amarillo has increased from $1,204 to $1,245/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amarillo | $1,245 | 15% | 89 | Details |
| 2 | Mcallen | $1,272 | 15% | 91 | Details |
| 3 | Beaumont | $1,275 | 15% | 88 | Details |
| 4 | Killeen | $1,280 | 15% | 90 | Details |
| 5 | Tyler | $1,290 | 15% | 92 | Details |
| 6 | Pasadena | $1,318 | 16% | 91 | Details |
| 7 | Laredo | $1,327 | 16% | 91 | Details |
| 8 | San Antonio | $1,361 | 16% | 93 | Details |
| 9 | Waco | $1,368 | 16% | 91 | Details |
| 10 | Lubbock | $1,388 | 17% | 92 | Details |
| 11 | Mesquite | $1,397 | 17% | 94 | Details |
| 12 | Corpus Christi | $1,433 | 17% | 93 | Details |
| 13 | El Paso | $1,441 | 17% | 94 | Details |
| 14 | Arlington | $1,462 | 18% | 98 | Details |
| 15 | Denton | $1,491 | 18% | 100 | Details |
| 16 | Carrollton | $1,517 | 18% | 103 | Details |
| 17 | Conroe | $1,524 | 18% | 99 | Details |
| 18 | Austin | $1,531 | 18% | 107 | Details |
| 19 | Houston | $1,542 | 19% | 97 | Details |
| 20 | Fort Worth | $1,554 | 19% | 98 | Details |
| 21 | Garland | $1,563 | 19% | 98 | Details |
| 22 | New Braunfels | $1,567 | 19% | 101 | Details |
| 23 | Lewisville | $1,573 | 19% | 103 | Details |
| 24 | Midland | $1,585 | 19% | 100 | Details |
| 25 | Irving | $1,587 | 19% | 101 | Details |
| 26 | Dallas | $1,591 | 19% | 99 | Details |
| 27 | Round Rock | $1,593 | 19% | 104 | Details |
| 28 | Grand Prairie | $1,602 | 19% | 100 | Details |
| 29 | Odessa | $1,612 | 19% | 97 | Details |
| 30 | Brownsville | $1,621 | 19% | 95 | Details |
| 31 | Allen | $1,634 | 20% | 109 | Details |
| 32 | Mckinney | $1,675 | 20% | 109 | Details |
| 33 | Richardson | $1,676 | 20% | 107 | Details |
| 34 | Plano | $1,717 | 21% | 110 | Details |
| 35 | Frisco | $1,751 | 21% | 118 | Details |
| 36 | College Station | $1,755 | 21% | 104 | Details |
| 37 | Abilene | $1,758 | 21% | 98 | Details |
| 38 | League | $1,764 | 21% | 105 | Details |
| 39 | Pearland | $1,797 | 22% | 106 | Details |
| 40 | Sugar Land | $1,990 | 24% | 112 | Details |
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Amarillo | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
2Mcallen | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
3Beaumont | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
4Killeen | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
5Tyler | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
6Pasadena | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
7Laredo | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
8San Antonio | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
9Waco | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
10Lubbock | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $75,297 |
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Amarillo ranks #1 in Texas for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $62,469.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Amarillo, rent would consume about 15% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Amarillo (ranked #1) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,245/mo, while Sugar Land (ranked #40) has a cost index of 112 and rent of $1,990/mo — a 23-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Amarillo is $1,245/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $650 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 0% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Amarillo is approximately $75,297/year ($6,275/month). After median rent of $1,245/month, you'd have roughly $60,357/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Amarillo is $202,835, which is 3.2× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Texas has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.19%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.6%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.