Cost of Living in Buffalo, NY, United States

Updated On June 21, 2023

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Buffalo, NY?

Both in previous and the years to come, America has always and will continue to attract migrants driven by the opportunities available there.

If you are one of them and you have decided to move to the USA for life, you can think about settling in Buffalo, the second largest city in the U.S. state of New York, full of historical attractions and outdoor recreation which will offer all the things necessary for a decent living at lower prices than in some other major cities.

Cost of Living Index:
72.4
* Based on Research & User Data
Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

If you are searching for a low-cost place to live, you might not think about spending money in restaurants, but that is a frequent means of entertainment nowadays and it is good to have in mind what the prices are.

Actually, meals are expensive, as well as alcohol if you like to drink it with your lunch or dinner.

Markets

MARKETS

If you do not consider it much to pay $3.50 for a dozen eggs, then living conditions for you would not be difficult in Buffalo.

All in all, the city is much more affordable than other American cities in terms of food, but it is still the greatest expense.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

Driving is not so expensive in Buffalo, and for its citizens, it is normal to possess a vehicle.

However, for a newcomer, it is advisable to use the public transportation system, which is usually efficient and fast, at least while he/she gets familiar with the city.

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Buffalo is not a city that boasts low utilities prices.

Actually, the costs of services are rather high and the larger your apartment and your family are, the greater they would be.

Internet access is extremely expensive throughout the USA.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

Many young people are interested in doing sports and spending quality leisure time, so it takes them quite a lot of money and they are looking for the option of doing recreation outdoors.

Buffalo offers places for activities outside, which might affect the prices of fitness clubs and gyms.

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

When you cover all the prices of housing, food, and services, very little is left for nonessential things like clothing.

Designer clothes are not unaffordable if you earn the average salary, but for people with the minimum one, they are high and unreasonable.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

Rent prices vary considerably across the city.

One-bedroom apartment for a single person ranges from $1,160.00 out of to $1,425.25 in the city center.

If you are coming with your family, be ready to devote around $2,766.67 for the monthly rent in Buffalo.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Buffalo, NY

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant)$20.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter)$5.88
Water (0.33 Liter)$1.74
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter)$0.84
Loaf Bread (500g)$3.60
Eggs (12)$3.50
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket$2.38
Monthly Pass$75.00
Gasoline$0.97
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling)$205.32
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local$0.10
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)$72.25
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult$34.08
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)$40.17
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release$15.00
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable)$51.30
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...)$34.62
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range)$90.06
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center$1425.25
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center$1160.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center$2766.67

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Buffalo, NY?

Buffalo is a fantastic destination for a permanent move, and it is advisable to explore the spending habits of its citizens before going somewhere new, just to get acquainted with what your future expenses might be and how you should organize your budget.

All in all, things look pretty good here as the economy is strong, and unemployment is low, but the costs are still high and luxurious items are unaffordable to some people.

The basic expenses take the most of the budget, like rent, utilities, food, and transportation, and very little amount remains for other costs.

Average Costs Breakdown

13.9%
31.1%
8.9%
7.8%
5%
1.7%
31.6%

Buffalo, NY: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

It is very important to think well when choosing a career path, as different professions and locations offer different incomes.

People struggle towards the highest pay, but bear in mind that not all jobs offer the same benefits, as far as wages go.

You will need to know that with the minimum wage, you will not be able to pay all the expenses, thus earning less than the average would make your living conditions deteriorate.

The only way of saving some money on rent is by buying your property here.

Average Salary$3754.11
Minimum Wage$1256.7
Mortgage Interest Rate6.74%

Buffalo Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Buffalo Safety Review

Safety Index:
58
  • OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
  • MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
  • TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
  • SCAMS RISK: HIGH
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Cost of Living by City in Buffalo, NY

CityCost of Living Index
Albany, NY72.4
Albuquerque, NM72.4
Anchorage, AK72.4
Ann Arbor, MI72.4
Arlington, TX72.4
Asheville, NC72.4
Atlanta, GA72.4
Austin, TX72.4
Bakersfield, CA72.4
Baltimore, MD72.4
Bellevue, WA72.4
Bellingham, WA72.4
Berkeley, CA72.4
Birmingham, AL72.4
Boise, ID72.4
Boston, MA72.4
Boulder, CO72.4
Brooklyn, NY72.4
Burlington, VT72.4
Charleston, SC72.4
Charlotte, NC73.33
Chattanooga, TN72.4
Chicago, IL72.4
Cincinnati, OH72.4
Cleveland, OH72.4
Columbia, SC72.4
Columbus, OH72.4
Dallas, TX72.4
Dayton, OH72.4
Denver, CO72.4
Des Moines, IA72.4
Detroit, MI72.4
El Paso, TX72.4
Eugene, OR72.4
Everett, WA72.4
Fayetteville, AR72.4
Fort Myers, FL72.4
Fort Wayne, IN72.4
Fort Worth, TX72.4
Fresno, CA74.2
Gainesville, FL74.2
Grand Rapids, MI74.2
Greensboro, NC74.2
Hartford, CT74.2
Honolulu, HI74.2
Houston, TX74.2
Huntsville, AL74.2
Indianapolis, IN74.2
Irvine, CA74.2
Jacksonville, FL74.2
Jersey City, NJ74.2
Kansas City, MO74.2
Knoxville, TN74.2
Las Vegas, NV74.2
Lexington, KY74.2
Little Rock, AR74.2
Long Beach, CA74.2
Los Angeles, CA74.2
Louisville, KY74.2
Lubbock, TX74.2
Madison, WI74.2
Memphis, TN74.2
Miami, FL74.2
Milwaukee, WI74.2
Minneapolis, MN74.2
Nashville, TN74.2
New Orleans, LA74.2
New York, NY74.2
Oakland, CA74.2
Oklahoma City, OK74.2
Olympia, WA74.2
Orlando, FL74.2
Peoria, IL72.4
Philadelphia, PA72.4
Phoenix, AZ72.4
Pittsburgh, PA72.4
Portland, ME72.4
Portland, OR72.4
Raleigh, NC72.4
Reno, NV72.4
Richmond, VA74.2
Rochester, NY74.2
Sacramento, CA74.2
Saint Louis, MO74.2
Saint Paul, MN74.2
Saint Petersburg, FL74.2
Salem, OR74.2
Salt Lake City, UT74.2
San Antonio, TX74.2
San Diego, CA74.2
San Francisco, CA74.2
San Jose, CA74.2
Santa Barbara, CA74.2
Santa Rosa, CA74.2
Seattle, WA74.2
Spokane, WA74.2
Springfield, MO74.2
Syracuse, NY74.2
Tacoma, WA74.2
Tallahassee, FL74.2
Tampa, FL74.2
Toledo, OH74.2
Tucson, AZ74.2
Tulsa, OK74.2
Vancouver, WA74.2
Virginia Beach, VA74.2
Washington, DC74.2
West Palm Beach, FL74.2
Wichita, KS74.2

Where to Next?

See these related locations:

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

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