Rochester, NY vs Buffalo, NY: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Buffalo, NY is 1.2% less expensive than Rochester, NY (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Rochester works out to about $74,100 in Buffalo, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 7.4% less in Buffalo. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,451 a month in Buffalo and $1,532 in Rochester, $972 a year less in Buffalo (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $287,000 in Buffalo and $281,000 in Rochester.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Buffalo was 3.2% less expensive than Rochester.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 7.4% lower in Buffalo than in Rochester
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.0 | 95.8 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 87.5 | 81.0 |
| Utilities | 133.2 | 129.5 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Category | Rochester | Buffalo | Buffalo vs Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.0 | 95.8 | −1.2% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 87.5 | 81.0 | −7.4% |
| Utilities | 133.2 | 129.5 | −2.8% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,532 | $1,451 | −5.3% |
| Typical home value | $281,000 | $287,000 | +2.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Rochester | $75,000 | $74,100 | −1.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Rochester and Buffalo has narrowed since 2008: 3.8 points then, 1.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.8 | 97.0 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 99.0 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 98.2 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 98.5 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 99.6 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 98.0 | 94.8 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 99.8 | 97.5 |
| 2017 | 100.9 | 97.3 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 97.7 | 94.6 |
| 2020 | 97.3 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 97.5 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 95.4 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 98.4 | 94.9 |
| 2024 | 97.0 | 95.8 |
Goods
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.5 | 101.5 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 100.1 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2021 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2022 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.8 | 73.4 |
| 2009 | 94.7 | 78.2 |
| 2010 | 93.2 | 77.2 |
| 2011 | 91.0 | 78.9 |
| 2012 | 94.0 | 80.0 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 80.6 |
| 2014 | 95.8 | 76.6 |
| 2015 | 93.5 | 81.6 |
| 2016 | 93.4 | 80.3 |
| 2017 | 96.3 | 75.6 |
| 2018 | 95.4 | 75.8 |
| 2019 | 92.9 | 74.6 |
| 2020 | 86.4 | 71.1 |
| 2021 | 90.6 | 76.2 |
| 2022 | 85.8 | 78.6 |
| 2023 | 94.4 | 76.0 |
| 2024 | 87.5 | 81.0 |
Utilities
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 140.4 | 134.3 |
| 2009 | 139.8 | 136.6 |
| 2010 | 137.8 | 132.3 |
| 2011 | 135.9 | 131.7 |
| 2012 | 128.8 | 125.4 |
| 2013 | 134.5 | 127.2 |
| 2014 | 133.6 | 124.8 |
| 2015 | 125.5 | 118.1 |
| 2016 | 124.4 | 119.0 |
| 2017 | 127.7 | 122.7 |
| 2018 | 134.6 | 130.9 |
| 2019 | 132.3 | 130.4 |
| 2020 | 132.3 | 130.1 |
| 2021 | 132.7 | 129.9 |
| 2022 | 131.6 | 127.4 |
| 2023 | 131.1 | 128.5 |
| 2024 | 133.2 | 129.5 |
Other services
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 101.7 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 102.7 | 102.7 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2024 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,451 in Buffalo vs $1,532 in Rochester
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $874 | $815 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $895 | $841 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $891 | $842 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $893 | $826 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $910 | $835 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $923 | $880 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $922 | $854 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $916 | $850 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $934 | $878 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $944 | $899 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $954 | $898 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $947 | $905 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $967 | $912 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $983 | $929 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $986 | $928 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $977 | $932 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $996 | $947 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,025 | $968 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,020 | $967 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,015 | $970 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,038 | $987 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,050 | $1,022 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,074 | $1,030 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,092 | $1,028 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,108 | $1,061 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,153 | $1,100 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,181 | $1,132 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,187 | $1,140 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,230 | $1,172 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,290 | $1,205 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,289 | $1,231 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,276 | $1,232 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,306 | $1,258 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,350 | $1,277 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,358 | $1,297 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,368 | $1,300 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,386 | $1,325 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,412 | $1,339 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,414 | $1,357 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,432 | $1,360 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,464 | $1,369 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,478 | $1,389 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,491 | $1,397 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,504 | $1,398 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,512 | $1,423 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,519 | $1,431 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,532 | $1,451 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $287,000 in Buffalo vs $281,000 in Rochester
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Rochester, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $133K | $134K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $134K | $135K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $136K | $138K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $137K | $140K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $140K | $141K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $144K | $142K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $145K | $144K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $148K | $147K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $149K | $149K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $151K | $151K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $150K | $154K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $149K | $157K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $149K | $160K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $150K | $163K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $153K | $166K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $154K | $166K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $156K | $168K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $158K | $171K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $160K | $173K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $162K | $175K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $164K | $178K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $167K | $180K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $172K | $186K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $181K | $195K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $187K | $202K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $196K | $213K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $200K | $218K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $198K | $217K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $207K | $227K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $220K | $239K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $223K | $243K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $222K | $241K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $224K | $240K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $232K | $246K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $241K | $252K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $243K | $255K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $245K | $258K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $254K | $264K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $259K | $268K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $263K | $270K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $264K | $271K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $265K | $273K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $268K | $277K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $270K | $280K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $274K | $282K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $278K | $285K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $281K | $287K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.