Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% 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 Missoula?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Missoula?

Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Buffalo vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Buffalo

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 5% 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 $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 26% higher in Missoula, MT. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$812

$755

+7% in Buffalo, NY

1 Bedroom

$849

$953

+12% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$954

$1,176

+23% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,676

+55% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$152,300

$427,400

+181% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$48,050

$65,329

+36% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,790

$47,830

+6% in Buffalo, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

about equal

Homeownership

42.7%

47.8%

+5.1 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

51.7%

+21.4 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

19.9 min

16.6 min

+3.3 min in Buffalo, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

770.5

601.9

+22% in Buffalo, NY

Property Crime

4,003.2

3,685.2

+8% 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

45.9°F

+2.4°F in Buffalo, NY

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

14.1 in

+26.3 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.13/gal

$4.27/gal

+3% in Missoula, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.5

15.1

+49% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.01

$10.12

+63% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Missoula, MT

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 / MT)

None

+4.0 pp in NY

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

5.65%

+5.3 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% 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 Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Missoula?: Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).