Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 37% higher in Portland, ME. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$812
$1,038
+28% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,331
+57% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$954
$1,664
+74% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,919
+78% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$452,600
+197% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$76,174
+59% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$56,960
+12% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
37.5 yr
+3.2 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
42.7%
46.7%
+4.0 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
59.2%
+28.9 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.9 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
272.7
+65% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
4,003.2
2,513.3
+37% 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
46.5°F
+1.8°F in Buffalo, NY
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
47.3 in
+6.8 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.04/gal
$3.86/gal
+4% in Buffalo, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
28.6
+4% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$21.00
+8% 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 / ME)
4%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
7.15%
+3.8 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Portland?
Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Portland?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).