Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Rochester?

Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Rochester?

Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Buffalo vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 45% higher in Rochester, MN. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$812

$1,080

+33% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,106

+30% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$954

$1,243

+30% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,646

+52% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$152,300

$287,500

+89% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$48,050

$87,767

+83% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,790

$60,620

+19% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

36.4 yr

+2.1 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

42.7%

65.4%

+22.7 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

50.1%

+19.8 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

19.9 min

17.2 min

+2.7 min in Buffalo, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

770.5

158.9

+79% in Buffalo, NY

Property Crime

4,003.2

1,379

+66% 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

45.4°F

+2.9°F in Buffalo, NY

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

33.0 in

+7.5 in in Buffalo, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.04/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in Buffalo, NY

Area: New York vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.9

16.9

+43% in Buffalo, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.74

$14.95

+34% 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 Rochester, MN

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 / MN)

6.875%

+2.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

9.85%

+1.1 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Rochester?: Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Rochester?: Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).