Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Denver?

Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Denver?

Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Buffalo vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 48% higher in Denver, 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

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$812

$1,497

+84% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,583

+86% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$954

$1,958

+105% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,080

$2,269

+110% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$152,300

$586,700

+285% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$48,050

$91,681

+91% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,790

$62,320

+23% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

35.2 yr

+0.9 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

42.7%

49.1%

+6.4 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

55.6%

+25.3 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

19.9 min

25.4 min

+5.5 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

770.5

999.3

+30% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,003.2

4,781.1

+19% in Denver, CO

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

50.2°F

+1.9°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

15.6 in

+24.9 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.04/gal

$4.27/gal

+6% in Denver, CO

Area: New York vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTD (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 Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Denver, 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)

2.9%

+1.1 pp in NY

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

4.40%

+6.5 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Denver?: Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Denver?: Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Denver 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).