When looking for a new place to set down roots, one of the main factors is if you can actually afford to live there. While New York State tends to rank high in terms of cost of living, the average cost of living in Buffalo NY is surprisingly lower than the rest. If you’re looking to pack up and relocate, you’ll want all of the information before you go, and we have the information you need. You’ll be pleased to hear that living comfortably in Buffalo won’t push your 2023 income limits – especially in comparison to the rest of the country.

To live comfortably in Buffalo NY, the cost of living is much lower than the average cost of cities like Denver, New York City, or Chicago.
Craig Fildes/Flickr
We've gathered data from multiple sites to get the information you need before packing up and relocating, and the numbers are quite pleasing.
The overall cost of living in Buffalo NY is about 4% less than the national average.
Payscale
Housing, utilities, and groceries are all less expensive than the mean cost across the U.S.
If you're looking to move from New York City to Buffalo, you really don't need to make much to maintain your standard of living.
Almond Butterscotch/Flickr
For households with a pre-tax income of $50,000, you'll only need to make $26,973 in order to maintain your standard of living in Buffalo NY. That's a 50% drop in cost of living from the Big Apple.
Overall, New York State is an expensive state to live in, but Buffalo is comparably cheaper.

HowMuch
This map from HowMuch shows the average salary you need to purchase a home, but in Buffalo, the median price for a home is significantly cheaper than in New York, NY. The median home cost in Brooklyn is over $1 million, whereas Buffalo sits right around $442,451. Rent is also significantly lower, with the average apartment costing about $989 a month. Please note: The statistics on this map are from 2018, so the numbers may have changed a bit since then.
If the housing prices don't convince you, the other costs very well should.
Andrew Nash/Flickr
In Buffalo, it costs less for transportation, food, and entertainment than in NYC. Even healthcare is lower. While the housing might still be an investment, you can truly thrive in Buffalo.
Well, there you have it. You really only need to make around $30,000 to live comfortably in Buffalo, and compared to the rest of the country, it's quite the steal.
Jess Buttery/Flickr

Are you surprised to hear these average income Buffalo statistics? How does it compare to your city? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

If you’re looking to plan a Buffalo NY 2023 move, you might want to learn about the culture so that you can fit in. Here are 10 things that people from Buffalo NY do that seem absolutely insane to everyone else.

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Cost Of Living In Buffalo NY & Related Info

Katie Lawrence | January 09, 2023

How does the cost of living in Buffalo NY compare to other major cities in New York State?

The cost of living in Buffalo NY is significantly lower than that of other cities in New York State. For example:

  • New York City - the cost of living in NYC is 146% higher than the national average
  • Albany - the cost of living in New York's capital city is 7% higher than the national average
  • Ithaca - the cost of living in Ithaca is 1% higher than the national average
  • Utica - the cost of living in Utica is 3% higher than the national average
  • Saratoga Springs - the cost of living in Saratoga Springs is 21% higher than the national average

 

These statistics were pulled from Payscale.

What are some of the other cheapest places in New York to live in? 

In addition to Buffalo, some of the cheapest places in New York to live in are:

  • Ilion:  Located near Syracuse, Ilion has a cost of living that is just .6% higher than the national average.
  • Ogdensburg: Right behind Ilion, Ogdensburg is an affordable city in New York where the median rent is less than $650.
  • Hornell: The cost of living in Hornell is only 1.7% higher than the national average.
  • Massena: This town located near the Canadian border has a median rent of only around $700.
  • Herkimer: Herkimer has a cost of living that is just 3% higher than the national average.
  • Olean: In Olean, you can get by on a salary of just over $41,000. The mean rent is $700.
  • Medina: Just like Buffalo, Medina has a cost of living that is 4% lower than the national average.
  • Inwood: A neighborhood on the outskirts of Manhattan, Inwood is one of the most affordable places to live in NYC. The average rent is just under $1,900.

These statistics were pulled from Payscale and Zumper.

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