Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 42% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$812
$998
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,305
+54% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$954
$1,504
+58% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,881
+74% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$420,700
+176% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$83,198
+73% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$52,710
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
35.6 yr
+1.3 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
42.7%
61.3%
+18.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
41.9%
+11.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.8 min
+2.9 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
722.1
+6% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
4,003.2
3,488.7
+13% 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
49.0°F
+0.7°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
16.5 in
+23.9 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.04/gal
$4.25/gal
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: New York vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
16.2
+46% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$11.92
+48% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO
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 / CO)
4%
2.9%
+1.1 pp in NY
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
4.40%
+6.5 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Colorado Springs?
Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Colorado Springs?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).