Cost of living index

Buffalo, NY

95.8 / 100

Living in Buffalo, NY is 4.2% cheaper than the US average — the #149 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,005/mo

Median home value: $209,600

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Buffalo, NY metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter

34° / 21°F

(1° / -6°C)

9.6 in precip

Spring

55° / 37°F

(13° / 3°C)

9.6 in precip

Summer

78° / 61°F

(26° / 16°C)

9.8 in precip

Fall

60° / 44°F

(16° / 7°C)

11.6 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from BUFFALO, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Buffalo, NY

The Buffalo, NY metro area has an overall price level of 95.8 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 4.2% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 81.0 it is 19.0% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#149 of 387

95.8

Goods#83 of 387

99.7

Housing rents#178 of 387

81.0

Utilities#55 of 387

129.5

Other services#256 of 387

97.8

Buffalo, NY is moved up the most by utilities, at 129.5 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

How Buffalo, NY compares

Other metros in New York

Albany, NY99.6 Binghamton, NY92.9 Elmira, NY94.4 Glens Falls, NY94.9 Ithaca, NY103.3 Kingston, NY100.7 Kiryas Joel, NY109.4 New York, NY112.6

See all 13 metros in New York →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Buffalo, NY an expensive place to live?

Buffalo, NY has an overall cost-of-living index of 95.8, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 4.2% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Buffalo, NY?

Housing rents in Buffalo, NY score 81.0 against a US average of 100 — roughly 19.0% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Buffalo, NY compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Buffalo, NY sit at 95.8 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 81.0. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.