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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
15 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 15 cities (38%) meet this threshold. There are options, but they require targeting.
202,408 residents · Texas
Amarillo earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 89 cost index sits 23 points below the national baseline, and the $62,469 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $202,835 — $264,535 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 73, while Healthcare trails at 92.
146,593 residents · Texas
Here's Mcallen by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 91. Rent: $1,272/month — we had to double-check this one — . Income: $60,165/year. Home price: $225,568. Population: 146,593. The strongest category is Housing at 77; the most expensive is Healthcare at 93. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,476 per year vs. the national median. This is quietly one of the better values out there (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
112,193 residents · Texas
What does daily life actually cost in Beaumont? Start with the 27% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 70) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 90) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $57,530 and homes at $165,122 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
159,643 residents · Texas
Here's Killeen by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 90. Rent: $1,280/month. Income: $58,339/year. Home price: $218,425. Population: 159,643. The strongest category is Housing at 76; the most expensive is Healthcare at 93. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,380 per year vs. the national median. For dual-income households, this multiplies into serious savings.
110,327 residents · Texas
Real talk: 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.
#1 Ranked: Amarillo — cost index 89, rent $1,245/mo, income $62,469
15 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K
15 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amarillo | $1,245 | 25% | 89 | Details |
| 2 | Mcallen | $1,272 | 25% | 91 | Details |
| 3 | Beaumont | $1,275 | 26% | 88 | Details |
| 4 | Killeen | $1,280 | 26% | 90 | Details |
| 5 | Tyler | $1,290 | 26% | 92 | Details |
| 6 | Pasadena | $1,318 | 26% | 91 | Details |
| 7 | Laredo | $1,327 | 27% | 91 | Details |
| 8 | San Antonio | $1,361 | 27% | 93 | Details |
| 9 | Waco | $1,368 | 27% | 91 | Details |
| 10 | Lubbock | $1,388 | 28% | 92 | Details |
| 11 | Mesquite | $1,397 | 28% | 94 | Details |
| 12 | Corpus Christi | $1,433 | 29% | 93 | Details |
| 13 | El Paso | $1,441 | 29% | 94 | Details |
| 14 | Arlington | $1,462 | 29% | 98 | Details |
| 15 | Denton | $1,491 | 30% | 100 | Details |
| 16 | Carrollton | $1,517 | 30% | 103 | Details |
| 17 | Conroe | $1,524 | 30% | 99 | Details |
| 18 | Austin | $1,531 | 31% | 107 | Details |
| 19 | Houston | $1,542 | 31% | 97 | Details |
| 20 | Fort Worth | $1,554 | 31% | 98 | Details |
| 21 | Garland | $1,563 | 31% | 98 | Details |
| 22 | New Braunfels | $1,567 | 31% | 101 | Details |
| 23 | Lewisville | $1,573 | 31% | 103 | Details |
| 24 | Midland | $1,585 | 32% | 100 | Details |
| 25 | Irving | $1,587 | 32% | 101 | Details |
| 26 | Dallas | $1,591 | 32% | 99 | Details |
| 27 | Round Rock | $1,593 | 32% | 104 | Details |
| 28 | Grand Prairie | $1,602 | 32% | 100 | Details |
| 29 | Odessa | $1,612 | 32% | 97 | Details |
| 30 | Brownsville | $1,621 | 32% | 95 | Details |
| 31 | Allen | $1,634 | 33% | 109 | Details |
| 32 | Mckinney | $1,675 | 34% | 109 | Details |
| 33 | Richardson | $1,676 | 34% | 107 | Details |
| 34 | Plano | $1,717 | 34% | 110 | Details |
| 35 | Frisco | $1,751 | 35% | 118 | Details |
| 36 | College Station | $1,755 | 35% | 104 | Details |
| 37 | Abilene | $1,758 | 35% | 98 | Details |
| 38 | League | $1,764 | 35% | 105 | Details |
| 39 | Pearland | $1,797 | 36% | 106 | Details |
| 40 | Sugar Land | $1,990 | 40% | 112 | Details |
15 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 15 cities (38%) meet this threshold. There are options, but they require targeting.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 15 cities (38%) meet this threshold. There are options, but they require targeting. 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.
Why Amarillo ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 23% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,245/month — we had to double-check this one — while the median household pulls in $62,469/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 73, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $202,835 — $264,535 below the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
The broader context shifts things: State context matters: Texas's 40 cities average a 99 cost index with $1,536/month median rent and $79,780 household income. No income tax, massive metros, and wide-open affordability. Keep reading — the tax analysis shifts the equation.
Look, If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 15 cities (38%) meet this threshold. There are options, but they require targeting.
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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Amarillo | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
2Mcallen | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
3Beaumont | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
4Killeen | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
5Tyler | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
6Pasadena | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
7Laredo | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
8San Antonio | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
9Waco | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
10Lubbock | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $47,157 |
Amarillo ranks #1 in Texas for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $62,469.
Yes. On a $60K salary in Amarillo, rent would consume about 25% 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 $60K in Amarillo is approximately $47,157/year ($3,930/month). After median rent of $1,245/month, you'd have roughly $32,217/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.