City profile
Buffalo, NY cost of living
NY · BLS RPP 93.9
Overall RPP
93.9
US = 100
Housing RPP
78.7
Housing component
Goods RPP
96.4
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,163/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Buffalo, NY sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#49 of 67
-6.1 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-4.5
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#61 of 67
-443/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Buffalo, NY
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Buffalo, NY metro.
Moved in
25,945
people · 15,765 households
Moved out
29,694
people · 18,576 households
Net
−3,749
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#40 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-3,645
median -104 people
Largest flow share
5% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Queens County, NY 1,203
- Monroe County, NY 944
- Kings County, NY 742
- Bronx County, NY 668
- Cattaraugus County, NY 570
Where residents moved to
- Monroe County, NY 952
- Cattaraugus County, NY 693
- Chautauqua County, NY 639
- Genesee County, NY 454
- Wyoming County, NY 404
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Buffalo, NY?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Buffalo, NY | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,950 | $50,000 x (93.9/100) |
| $75,000 | $70,425 | $75,000 x (93.9/100) |
| $100,000 | $93,900 | $100,000 x (93.9/100) |
| $125,000 | $117,375 | $125,000 x (93.9/100) |
| $150,000 | $140,850 | $150,000 x (93.9/100) |
| $200,000 | $187,800 | $200,000 x (93.9/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
New York state income tax 4%-10.9%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Buffalo, NY?
- Buffalo, NY has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 93.9 (US average = 100). It is 6.1% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Buffalo, NY?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $93,900 in Buffalo, NY to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Buffalo, NY?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is approximately $1,163 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Buffalo, NY?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 25,945 people moved into the Buffalo, NY metro and 29,694 moved out — a net loss of roughly 3,749 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Queens County, NY.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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