Example household · Amarillo, TX · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

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Amarillo vs Houston

Amarillo and Houston

Photo: Marc Mongenet / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Houston are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Amarillo to Houston

In 2022-2023, 101 households filed a move from Amarillo to Houston (about 180 people, average adjusted gross income $62,139). 98 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $854 in Amarillo and $1,188 in Houston. Amarillo has no state tax on wages. Houston has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Houston is 102% of the national level for the same work, against 90% in Amarillo.

Houston averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Amarillo is 260 sunny days, 93°F in July, 28°F in January. Commutes average 29 minutes in Houston and 20 in Amarillo.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 101 households moved Amarillo → Houston (about 180 people, average AGI $62,139). 98 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Amarillo and Houston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 644 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$2,250–$4,250
Container or pod
$1,550–$2,950
Rent a truck
$750–$1,450

Movers in Houston and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Houston cheaper than Amarillo after tax and rent?

No. Houston leaves about $402 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $854 in Amarillo and $1,188 in Houston.

Does Houston have state income tax?

Houston is in Texas, which has no state income tax.

Did people actually move from Amarillo to Houston?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.