Utica, 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 3.4% more expensive than Utica, NY (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Utica works out to about $77,600 in Buffalo, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 22.6% more in Buffalo. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,451 a month in Buffalo and $1,424 in Utica, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $287,000 in Buffalo and $231,000 in Utica.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Buffalo was 1.8% more expensive than Utica.
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: 22.6% higher in Buffalo than in Utica
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Utica, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Utica, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | 95.8 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 66.1 | 81.0 |
| Utilities | 131.9 | 129.5 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Category | Utica | Buffalo | Buffalo vs Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | 95.8 | +3.4% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 66.1 | 81.0 | +22.6% |
| Utilities | 131.9 | 129.5 | −1.8% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,424 | $1,451 | +1.9% |
| Typical home value | $231,000 | $287,000 | +24.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Utica | $75,000 | $77,600 | +3.4% |
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 Utica and Buffalo has widened since 2008: 1.3 points then, 3.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Utica, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Utica, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.7 | 97.0 |
| 2009 | 95.8 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 95.1 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 94.1 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 93.5 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 95.8 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 94.4 | 94.8 |
| 2015 | 96.7 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 95.3 | 97.5 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 97.3 |
| 2018 | 95.0 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 92.9 | 94.6 |
| 2020 | 93.4 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 92.5 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 89.9 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 92.7 | 94.9 |
| 2024 | 92.7 | 95.8 |
Goods
- Utica, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Utica, 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)
- Utica, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Utica, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 69.8 | 73.4 |
| 2009 | 71.1 | 78.2 |
| 2010 | 73.6 | 77.2 |
| 2011 | 69.5 | 78.9 |
| 2012 | 67.7 | 80.0 |
| 2013 | 74.7 | 80.6 |
| 2014 | 75.5 | 76.6 |
| 2015 | 76.4 | 81.6 |
| 2016 | 70.2 | 80.3 |
| 2017 | 68.8 | 75.6 |
| 2018 | 73.9 | 75.8 |
| 2019 | 67.6 | 74.6 |
| 2020 | 70.7 | 71.1 |
| 2021 | 65.8 | 76.2 |
| 2022 | 62.0 | 78.6 |
| 2023 | 67.5 | 76.0 |
| 2024 | 66.1 | 81.0 |
Utilities
- Utica, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Utica, NY | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 143.2 | 134.3 |
| 2009 | 141.6 | 136.6 |
| 2010 | 137.9 | 132.3 |
| 2011 | 137.1 | 131.7 |
| 2012 | 129.5 | 125.4 |
| 2013 | 133.4 | 127.2 |
| 2014 | 133.1 | 124.8 |
| 2015 | 124.4 | 118.1 |
| 2016 | 123.1 | 119.0 |
| 2017 | 126.7 | 122.7 |
| 2018 | 134.8 | 130.9 |
| 2019 | 132.7 | 130.4 |
| 2020 | 132.7 | 130.1 |
| 2021 | 132.8 | 129.9 |
| 2022 | 131.9 | 127.4 |
| 2023 | 130.8 | 128.5 |
| 2024 | 131.9 | 129.5 |
Other services
- Utica, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Utica, 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 $1,424 in Utica
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Utica, 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
| Utica, NY | Buffalo, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $815 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $841 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $842 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $826 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $835 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $880 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $854 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $850 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $878 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $899 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $898 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $905 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $912 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $929 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $928 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $932 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $947 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $968 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $967 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $970 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $987 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $1,022 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $1,030 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $1,028 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $1,061 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $987 | $1,100 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,050 | $1,132 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,052 | $1,140 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,083 | $1,172 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,092 | $1,205 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,147 | $1,231 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,147 | $1,232 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,200 | $1,258 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,203 | $1,277 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,215 | $1,297 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,243 | $1,300 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,279 | $1,325 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,287 | $1,339 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,306 | $1,357 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,313 | $1,360 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,309 | $1,369 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,341 | $1,389 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,367 | $1,397 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,367 | $1,398 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,382 | $1,423 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,424 | $1,431 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,424 | $1,451 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $287,000 in Buffalo vs $231,000 in Utica
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Utica, 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
| Utica, NY | Buffalo, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $107K | $134K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $108K | $135K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $109K | $138K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $110K | $140K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $111K | $141K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $111K | $142K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $112K | $144K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $114K | $147K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $115K | $149K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $115K | $151K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $118K | $154K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $120K | $157K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $122K | $160K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $125K | $163K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $128K | $166K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $127K | $166K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $128K | $168K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $130K | $171K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $132K | $173K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $134K | $175K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $137K | $178K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $139K | $180K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $142K | $186K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $151K | $195K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $157K | $202K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $164K | $213K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $166K | $218K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $166K | $217K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $174K | $227K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $182K | $239K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $185K | $243K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $184K | $241K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $182K | $240K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $187K | $246K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $191K | $252K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $194K | $255K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $196K | $258K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $202K | $264K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $205K | $268K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $208K | $270K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $209K | $271K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $213K | $273K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $219K | $277K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $222K | $280K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $225K | $282K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $230K | $285K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $231K | $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.