Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Buffalo?

Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Buffalo?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $34,000 in Buffalo.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Buffalo?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Buffalo under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Buffalo Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,150 in Buffalo, NY. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $48,050 in Buffalo, NY — about 44% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Buffalo, NY

Rent

Studio

—

$812

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$849

+25% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$954

+58% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,080

+53% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$152,300

+78% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$48,050

+44% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$50,790

+19% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

34.3 yr

+1.0 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

42.7%

+3.3 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

30.3%

+11.1 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

19.9 min

+1.2 min in Buffalo, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

770.5

+19% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

4,003.2

+19% in Buffalo, NY

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

48.3°F

+1.9°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

40.5 in

+24.9 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$4.04/gal

+5% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

29.9

+85% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$22.74

+91% in Buffalo, NY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Buffalo, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / NY)

2.9%

+1.1 pp in NY

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

10.90%

+6.5 pp in NY

Aurora vs Buffalo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Buffalo?: Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Buffalo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $34,000 in Buffalo.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Buffalo?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Buffalo under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).