Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 33% higher in Newark, DE. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$812
$1,649
+103% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,391
+64% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$954
$1,513
+59% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,916
+77% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$357,600
+135% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$71,373
+49% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$54,310
+7% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
22.0 yr
+12.3 yr in Buffalo, NY
Homeownership
42.7%
50.3%
+7.6 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
57.5%
+27.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.6 min
+0.3 min in Buffalo, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
326.3
+58% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
4,003.2
2,024.6
+49% 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
54.9°F
+6.6°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
43.1 in
+2.6 in in Newark, DE

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
19.3
+35% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.01
$29.73
+10% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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 / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in NY
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
6.60%
+4.3 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Newark?
Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Newark?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).