Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Dallas?

Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $51,000 in Dallas.

Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Dallas?

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

Buffalo vs Dallas Cost of Living 2026

Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 29% higher in Dallas, TX. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY

Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio

$812

$1,259

+55% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,280

+51% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$954

$1,500

+57% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,559

+44% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$152,300

$295,300

+94% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$48,050

$67,760

+41% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,790

$51,440

+1% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

33.4 yr

+0.9 yr in Buffalo, NY

Homeownership

42.7%

42.4%

+0.3 pp in Buffalo, NY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

37.4%

+7.1 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

19.9 min

26.0 min

+6.1 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

770.5

661.9

+14% in Buffalo, NY

Property Crime

4,003.2

3,412.9

+15% 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

67.2°F

+18.9°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

37.6 in

+2.9 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.04/gal

$3.62/gal

+10% in Buffalo, NY

Area: New York vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.9

16.4

+45% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.74

$30.48

+34% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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 / TX)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

None

+10.9 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Dallas?: Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Dallas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Dallas?: Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).