Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 48% higher in Nashua, NH. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY
Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio
$812
$1,127
+39% in Nashua, NH
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,383
+63% in Nashua, NH
2 Bedroom
$954
$1,699
+78% in Nashua, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,951
+81% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$373,100
+145% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$92,457
+92% in Nashua, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$56,530
+11% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
39.7 yr
+5.4 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
42.7%
56.4%
+13.7 pp in Nashua, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
40.5%
+10.2 pp in Nashua, NH
Avg Commute
19.9 min
25.3 min
+5.4 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
164.9
+79% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
4,003.2
1,269
+68% 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
49.2°F
+0.9°F in Nashua, NH
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
44.6 in
+4.1 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Buffalo, NY

Area: New York vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.5
27.0
+8% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.01
$21.67
+20% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / NH)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in NY
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
None
+10.9 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Nashua?
Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Nashua?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Nashua?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax 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).