Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Fayetteville?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Buffalo, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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 Fayetteville.

Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Fayetteville?

Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Buffalo vs Fayetteville Cost of Living 2026

Buffalo

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,160 in Buffalo, NY versus $990 in Fayetteville, AR. Overall, Fayetteville, AR 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 $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR — about 19% higher in Fayetteville, AR. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY

Fayetteville, AR

Rent

Studio

$812

$709

+13% in Buffalo, NY

1 Bedroom

$849

$817

+4% in Buffalo, NY

2 Bedroom

$954

$999

+5% in Fayetteville, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,430

+32% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$152,300

$322,500

+112% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$48,050

$59,074

+23% in Fayetteville, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,790

$46,610

+8% in Buffalo, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

28.7 yr

+5.6 yr in Buffalo, NY

Homeownership

42.7%

41.9%

+0.8 pp in Buffalo, NY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

49.8%

+19.5 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

19.9 min

18.2 min

+1.7 min in Buffalo, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

770.5

429.4

+44% in Buffalo, NY

Property Crime

4,003.2

2,392.2

+40% 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

57.1°F

+8.8°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

48.5 in

+8.0 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.13/gal

$3.62/gal

+12% in Buffalo, NY

Area: New York vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.5

14.1

+52% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.01

$27.86

+3% in Fayetteville, AR

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 Fayetteville, AR

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 / AR)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

3.90%

+7.0 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Fayetteville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Fayetteville?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Buffalo, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Fayetteville?: 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 Fayetteville.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Fayetteville?: Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).