Cost of Living in Buffalo, NY
| Cost of Living in Buffalo, NY | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 48% lower | 7% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 8% lower | 4% lower |
| Food | 10% lower | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 10% lower | 5% lower |
| Transportation | 8% lower | 1% lower |
| Goods & Services | 15% lower | 5% lower |
The cost of living in Buffalo, NY is 27% lower than the state average and 5% lower than the national average. Buffalo, NY housing is 7% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% cheaper in Buffalo, NY than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 5% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 5% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 5% cheaper in Buffalo, NY.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Buffalo is $1,393, while home prices circle around $464,490.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Buffalo, energy bills cost around $165.76 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.00 in Buffalo, a dozen eggs go for around $2.93 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.64.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Buffalo, an optometry check-up costs around $74.56, while a dentist appointment is priced $120.67 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.90 in Buffalo, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $51.29.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $24.58 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $26.32.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Buffalo, you should budget around $12.24 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $20.26, while dry cleaning costs about $18.11.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Buffalo, the median household income is $48,050.