Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/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 $980 in Cheyenne, WY. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Buffalo, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY — about 38% higher in Cheyenne, WY. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$812
$756
+7% in Buffalo, NY
1 Bedroom
$849
$824
+3% in Buffalo, NY
2 Bedroom
$954
$1,036
+9% in Cheyenne, WY
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,478
+37% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$311,200
+104% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$77,176
+61% in Cheyenne, WY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$51,540
+1% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
38.9 yr
+4.6 yr in Cheyenne, WY
Homeownership
42.7%
67.7%
+25.0 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
32.9%
+2.6 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Avg Commute
19.9 min
16.1 min
+3.8 min in Buffalo, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
334.6
+57% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
4,003.2
3,030.3
+24% 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
46.5°F
+1.8°F in Buffalo, NY
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
15.9 in
+24.5 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.04/gal
$4.29/gal
+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: New York vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
14.8
+51% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$13.31
+41% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Cheyenne, WY
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Cheyenne, WY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Cheyenne, WY
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Buffalo, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / WY)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
None
+10.9 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Cheyenne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Cheyenne?
Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Buffalo, NY's $1,150, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Cheyenne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Cheyenne?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Cheyenne under Wyoming's (no state income tax 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).