Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,150 in Buffalo, NY versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 47% higher in Charleston, SC. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$812
$1,579
+94% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,430
+68% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$954
$1,684
+77% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$2,076
+92% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$469,100
+208% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$90,038
+87% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$49,150
+3% in Buffalo, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
36.1 yr
+1.8 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
42.7%
55.6%
+12.9 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
57.7%
+27.4 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.8 min
+3.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
358.8
+53% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
4,003.2
2,035.1
+49% 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
48.3°F
66.7°F
+18.4°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
44.4 in
+3.9 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.04/gal
$3.86/gal
+4% in Buffalo, NY

Area: New York vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
16.2
+46% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$27.35
+20% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Buffalo, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Buffalo, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Buffalo, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Buffalo, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Buffalo, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / SC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
6.00%
+4.9 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Charleston?
Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Charleston?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).