Cost of Living: Santa Clarita, CA vs Amarillo, TX (2026)

Santa Clarita

California
197
VS

Amarillo

Texas
69

Santa Clarita is 186% more expensive than Amarillo.

$2,486/mo ↑ 137%
Median Rent
$1,049/mo ↓ 58%
$119,926/yr ↑ 92%
Median Income
$62,469/yr ↓ 48%
$721,000 ↑ 286%
Home Value
$186,800 ↓ 74%
$2,649/mo ↑ 147%
Owner Costs
$1,074/mo ↓ 59%
229,021
Population
200,945

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
1.6%

Affordability

24.9%
rent-to-income
Affordability
20.2%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clarita, CA and Amarillo, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 197 and 69 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,437/month cheaper in Amarillo, saving renters about $17,244/year.

Median household income is $57,457/year higher in Santa Clarita. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clarita is $721,000 compared to $186,800 in Amarillo.

Texas has no state income tax, giving Amarillo residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clarita vs Amarillo — common questions

Is Santa Clarita or Amarillo cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Amarillo is cheaper to live in with an index of 69 compared to 197 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clarita and Amarillo?
Median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,486/month and in Amarillo it's $1,049/month — a difference of $1,437/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clarita or Amarillo?
Median household income is $119,926 in Santa Clarita and $62,469 in Amarillo. Median household income is $57,457/year higher in Santa Clarita.
How do taxes compare between California and Texas?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Clarita or Amarillo?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clarita has a cost index of 197 with median rent of $2,486/mo, while Amarillo has a cost index of 69 with rent of $1,049/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Clarita details → View Amarillo details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Santa Clarita and Amarillo

Santa Clarita vs. Spokane Santa Clarita vs. Fremont Santa Clarita vs. Enterprise Santa Clarita vs. Richmond Santa Clarita vs. Norfolk Santa Clarita vs. Baton Rouge Amarillo vs. Oxnard Amarillo vs. Tallahassee Amarillo vs. Augusta Amarillo vs. Birmingham Amarillo vs. McKinney Amarillo vs. Sunrise Manor