Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Buffalo?

Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $34,000 in Buffalo.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Buffalo?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Buffalo under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Austin vs Buffalo Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,150 in Buffalo, NY. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $48,050 in Buffalo, NY — about 47% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Buffalo, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$812

+40% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$849

+42% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$954

+46% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,080

+49% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$152,300

+70% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$48,050

+47% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$50,790

+11% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

34.3 yr

+0.2 yr in Austin, TX

Homeownership

44.4%

42.7%

+1.7 pp in Austin, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

30.3%

+27.9 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

19.9 min

+4.1 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

770.5

+62% in Buffalo, NY

Property Crime

3,290.7

4,003.2

+22% 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

67.2°F

48.3°F

+18.9°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

40.5 in

+5.6 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.04/gal

+12% in Buffalo, NY

Area: Texas vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

29.9

+82% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$22.74

+25% in Austin, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Buffalo, NY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Buffalo, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Austin, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Buffalo, NY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Buffalo, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Buffalo, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NY)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.90%

+10.9 pp in NY

Austin vs Buffalo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Buffalo?: Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Buffalo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $34,000 in Buffalo.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Buffalo?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).