Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 12% 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 $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 14% higher in Montgomery, AL. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$812
$864
+6% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$849
$831
+2% in Buffalo, NY
2 Bedroom
$954
$982
+3% in Montgomery, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,172
+9% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$148,500
+2% in Buffalo, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$55,687
+16% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$44,950
+11% in Buffalo, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
36.2 yr
+1.9 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
42.7%
54.3%
+11.6 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
33.5%
+3.2 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
19.9 min
20.5 min
+0.6 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
605.5
+21% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
4,003.2
2,258.3
+44% 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
65.1°F
+16.8°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
53.1 in
+12.6 in in Montgomery, AL

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
16.4
+44% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.01
$24.06
+11% in Buffalo, NY

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 Montgomery, AL
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 / AL)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
5.00%
+5.9 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% 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 Montgomery?
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 Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Montgomery?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).