Cost of Living in Buffalo, NY, United States

Updated On February 18, 2026
Buffalo, New York, USA City Skyline
Cost of Living Index:
72.4
* Based on Research & User Data

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Cost of Living in United States

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 Breakdown in Buffalo, NY

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.

Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) $20.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) $5.88
Water (0.33 Liter) $1.74
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.

Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter) $0.84
Loaf Bread (500g) $3.60
Eggs (12) $3.50
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.

Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket $2.38
Monthly Pass $75.00
Gasoline $0.97
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.

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
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.

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
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.

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
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.

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 RISKMEDIUM
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISKMEDIUM
PICKPOCKETS RISKMEDIUM
NATURAL DISASTERS RISKMEDIUM
MUGGING RISKMEDIUM
TERRORISM RISKMEDIUM
SCAMS RISKHIGH
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISKMEDIUM
TAP WATER RISKLOW

Cost of Living by City in United States

City Cost of Living Index
United States FlagAlbany, NY 72.4
United States FlagAlbuquerque, NM 72.4
United States FlagAnchorage, AK 72.4
United States FlagAnn Arbor, MI 72.4
United States FlagArlington, TX 72.4
United States FlagAsheville, NC 72.4
United States FlagAtlanta, GA 72.4
United States FlagAustin, TX 72.4
United States FlagBakersfield, CA 72.4
United States FlagBaltimore, MD 72.4
United States FlagBellevue, WA 72.4
United States FlagBellingham, WA 72.4
United States FlagBerkeley, CA 72.4
United States FlagBirmingham, AL 72.4
United States FlagBoise, ID 72.4
United States FlagBoston, MA 72.4
United States FlagBoulder, CO 72.4
United States FlagBrooklyn, NY 72.4
United States FlagBurlington, VT 72.4
United States FlagCharleston, SC 72.4
United States FlagCharlotte, NC 73.33
United States FlagChattanooga, TN 72.4
United States FlagChicago, IL 72.4
United States FlagCincinnati, OH 72.4
United States FlagCleveland, OH 72.4
United States FlagColumbia, SC 72.4
United States FlagColumbus, OH 72.4
United States FlagDallas, TX 72.4
United States FlagDayton, OH 72.4
United States FlagDenver, CO 72.4
United States FlagDes Moines, IA 72.4
United States FlagDetroit, MI 72.4
United States FlagEl Paso, TX 72.4
United States FlagEugene, OR 72.4
United States FlagEverett, WA 72.4
United States FlagFayetteville, AR 72.4
United States FlagFort Myers, FL 72.4
United States FlagFort Wayne, IN 72.4
United States FlagFort Worth, TX 72.4
United States FlagFresno, CA 74.2
United States FlagGainesville, FL 74.2
United States FlagGrand Rapids, MI 74.2
United States FlagGreensboro, NC 74.2
United States FlagHartford, CT 74.2
United States FlagHonolulu, HI 74.2
United States FlagHouston, TX 74.2
United States FlagHuntsville, AL 74.2
United States FlagIndianapolis, IN 74.2
United States FlagIrvine, CA 74.2
United States FlagJacksonville, FL 74.2
United States FlagJersey City, NJ 74.2
United States FlagKansas City, MO 74.2
United States FlagKnoxville, TN 74.2
United States FlagLas Vegas, NV 74.2
United States FlagLexington, KY 74.2
United States FlagLittle Rock, AR 74.2
United States FlagLong Beach, CA 74.2
United States FlagLos Angeles, CA 74.2
United States FlagLouisville, KY 74.2
United States FlagLubbock, TX 74.2
United States FlagMadison, WI 74.2
United States FlagMemphis, TN 74.2
United States FlagMiami, FL 74.2
United States FlagMilwaukee, WI 74.2
United States FlagMinneapolis, MN 74.2
United States FlagNashville, TN 74.2
United States FlagNew Orleans, LA 74.2
United States FlagNew York, NY 74.2
United States FlagOakland, CA 74.2
United States FlagOklahoma City, OK 74.2
United States FlagOlympia, WA 74.2
United States FlagOrlando, FL 74.2
United States FlagPeoria, IL 72.4
United States FlagPhiladelphia, PA 72.4
United States FlagPhoenix, AZ 72.4
United States FlagPittsburgh, PA 72.4
United States FlagPortland, ME 72.4
United States FlagPortland, OR 72.4
United States FlagRaleigh, NC 72.4
United States FlagReno, NV 72.4
United States FlagRichmond, VA 74.2
United States FlagRochester, NY 74.2
United States FlagSacramento, CA 74.2
United States FlagSaint Louis, MO 74.2
United States FlagSaint Paul, MN 74.2
United States FlagSaint Petersburg, FL 74.2
United States FlagSalem, OR 74.2
United States FlagSalt Lake City, UT 74.2
United States FlagSan Antonio, TX 74.2
United States FlagSan Diego, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Francisco, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Jose, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Barbara, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Rosa, CA 74.2
United States FlagSeattle, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpokane, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpringfield, MO 74.2
United States FlagSyracuse, NY 74.2
United States FlagTacoma, WA 74.2
United States FlagTallahassee, FL 74.2
United States FlagTampa, FL 74.2
United States FlagToledo, OH 74.2
United States FlagTucson, AZ 74.2
United States FlagTulsa, OK 74.2
United States FlagVancouver, WA 74.2
United States FlagVirginia Beach, VA 74.2
United States FlagWashington, DC 74.2
United States FlagWest Palm Beach, FL 74.2
United States FlagWichita, KS 74.2

Where to Next?

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

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

1 Review on Buffalo, NY

  1. It’s interesting to think about how the promise of opportunity can drive so many to new places, and Buffalo seems like it offers a unique balance of affordability and quality of life. The idea of settling in a city with such rich history and access to nature, all while keeping costs manageable, really resonates with those seeking a fresh start. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best choices come from looking beyond the typical hotspots.

Buffalo, NY Rated 4 / 5 based on 1 user reviews.

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