Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Buffalo, NY is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 13% higher in Wilmington, 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
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$812
$1,103
+36% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,024
+21% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$954
$1,213
+27% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,394
+29% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$224,500
+47% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$55,269
+15% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$54,310
+7% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
37.0 yr
+2.7 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
42.7%
46.0%
+3.3 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
33.1%
+2.8 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.0 min
+3.1 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
1,138.2
+48% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
4,003.2
3,182.4
+21% 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 Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
43.1 in
+2.6 in in Wilmington, DE

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
19.4
+35% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$22.51
+1% in Buffalo, NY

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 Wilmington, 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 Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Wilmington?
Buffalo, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Wilmington?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Wilmington 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).