Is Amarillo cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Amarillo is $1,106 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 43% cheaper. Median household income is $60,628 in Amarillo compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Amarillo or Dallas?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 109 in Amarillo and 109 in Dallas (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Amarillo or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Amarillo and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Amarillo, TX vs Dallas, TX

Amarillo, TX versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,106 a month in Amarillo and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $60,628 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Amarillo takes affordability and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is rent, where Amarillo leads by 43% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Amarillo can feel further apart than Amarillo and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Amarillo and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Amarillo report Full Dallas report

Amarillo, TX

Rent: $1,106/mo
Median income: $60,628
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 86°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

43% cheaper

Amarillo rent is 43% cheaper than Dallas

Amarillo

Winner

$1,106/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,106 a month in Amarillo versus $1,931 in Dallas, so Amarillo is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $825/month back in your pocket — $9,900/year. Over five years that's $49,500 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Dallas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Amarillo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

6% higher

Dallas's median income is 6% higher than Amarillo

Amarillo

$60,628

Dallas

Winner

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,985 in Dallas versus $60,628 in Amarillo, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Dallas — about $3,357 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

Neck and neck

Amarillo and Dallas are about even on crime index.

Amarillo

109 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Amarillo and Dallas post similar crime indexes (109 vs 109, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Amarillo and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Amarillo

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Amarillo, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

33% more comfortable

Amarillo weather is 33% more comfortable than Dallas

Amarillo

Winner

86°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Amarillo scores 33% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 86°F in Amarillo and 92°F in Dallas. Amarillo reads as hot, long summers; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Amarillo is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Amarillo

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Amarillo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,106 a month. Choose Amarillo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Amarillo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (86°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 33%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but Amarillo is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Amarillo report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($63,985). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Amarillo vs Dallas, called

If cost of living is your priority, Amarillo is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Amarillo offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Amarillo vs Dallas FAQ

Is Amarillo cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Amarillo is $1,106 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 43% cheaper. Median household income is $60,628 in Amarillo compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Amarillo or Dallas?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 109 in Amarillo and 109 in Dallas (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Amarillo or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Amarillo and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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