Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Naperville?

Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Naperville?

Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Buffalo vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 68% higher in Naperville, IL. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$812

$1,713

+111% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,594

+88% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$954

$1,889

+98% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,080

$2,446

+126% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$152,300

$509,900

+235% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$48,050

$150,937

+214% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,790

$54,720

+8% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

40.1 yr

+5.8 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

42.7%

74.3%

+31.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

71.7%

+41.4 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

19.9 min

31.4 min

+11.5 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

770.5

85.7

+89% in Buffalo, NY

Property Crime

4,003.2

892.2

+78% 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

49.9°F

+1.6°F in Naperville, IL

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

36.9 in

+3.6 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.04/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Buffalo, NY

Area: New York vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.9

23.9

+20% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.74

$15.39

+32% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Buffalo, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Buffalo, NY

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Buffalo, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Buffalo, NY

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / IL)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

4.95%

+6.0 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Naperville?: Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Naperville?: Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).