Cost of living, Buffalo
95.8
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Buffalo sits about 4.2% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −4.2%
- Metro
- Buffalo
- CBSA
- 15380
Buffalo all-items RPP is 95.8 (2024), about 4.2% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $86,220 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Buffalo
| Component | Buffalo | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.8 | 100 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 81.0 | 100 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Buffalo
| At US average | In Buffalo |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $57,480 |
| $90,000 | $86,220 |
| $150,000 | $143,700 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (95.8 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Buffalo?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY is 95.8, versus a US average of 100 (−4.2%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $86,220 in Buffalo for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 420 OEWS emp. $239,990
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 1,590 OEWS emp. $172,650
- Financial Managers , 2,680 OEWS emp. $164,230
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 630 OEWS emp. $164,120
- Sales Managers , 1,200 OEWS emp. $163,090
- Human Resources Managers , 590 OEWS emp. $150,180
See methodology and disclaimer.