Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Lincoln compared to Amarillo? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Lincoln | Metric | Amarillo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | Cost of Living Index | 87 | +0.0% |
| $235,000 | Median Home Price | $185,000 | -21.3% |
| $795 | Median Monthly Rent | $850 | +6.9% |
| $60,800 | Median Household Income | $56,400 | -7.2% |
| 1.6% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | +12.5% |
| 2.6% | Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | +30.8% |
| 19 min | Average Commute | 18 min | -5.3% |
| 31.8 | Median Age | 33.8 | +6.3% |
| 360,000 | Metro Population | 310,000 | -13.9% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Lincoln costs $1,570/month (PITI) compared to $1,267/month in Amarillo — a difference of $303/month or $3,636/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.9x in Lincoln versus 3.3x in Amarillo, suggesting Amarillo is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.2 years to save a down payment in Lincoln compared to 4.4 years in Amarillo.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Lincoln | Amarillo |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $60,800 | $56,400 |
| State Income Tax | $2,236 | None |
| Federal Income Tax | $5,167 | $4,639 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,652 | $4,315 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,760/yr | $3,330/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.5% | 6.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $12,055 (19.8%) | $8,954 (15.9%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $48,745 | $47,446 |
Texas has no state income tax, giving Amarillo residents a significant tax advantage. On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $12,055 in Lincoln (19.8% effective) versus $8,954 in Amarillo (15.9% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $48,745 in Lincoln and $47,446 in Amarillo. Property taxes add $3,760/year on the median Lincoln home versus $3,330/year in Amarillo.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $60,800 in Lincoln (COL 87) and relocate to Amarillo (COL 87), you would need $60,800 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means your salary should stay roughly the same.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Lincoln is 19 minutes versus 18 minutes in Amarillo, a difference of 1 minutes each way. Lincoln's lower unemployment rate of 2.6% versus 3.4% suggests a stronger job market. Amarillo skews slightly older with a median age of 33.8 vs 31.8 in Lincoln.
Lincoln and Amarillo have very similar costs of living, with COL indices of 87 and 87 respectively (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses, housing, and taxes are comparable between the two metro areas.
The median home price in Amarillo is $185,000, which is $50,000 more than Lincoln's median of $235,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $850/month in Amarillo vs $795/month in Lincoln, a difference of $55/month or $660/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $60,800 salary in Lincoln is equivalent to $60,800 in Amarillo. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Lincoln's COL index of 87 vs Amarillo's 87. Conversely, $56,400 in Amarillo equals $56,400 in Lincoln.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $12,055 (19.8% effective rate) in Lincoln vs $8,954 (15.9% effective rate) in Amarillo. Property taxes on the median home are $3,760/year in Lincoln (1.6% rate) vs $3,330/year in Amarillo (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.5% in Nebraska and 6.3% in Texas.
Lincoln median household income: $60,800/yr. Amarillo median household income: $56,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $795 in Lincoln vs $850 in Amarillo. Annualized that is $9,540 vs $10,200.
Lincoln offers a lower cost of living (index 87 vs 87), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Amarillo typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Lincoln and Amarillo numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Lincoln vs Amarillo cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .