What is the cost of living in Buffalo, MN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Buffalo has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Minnesota, Buffalo has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Minnesota's index of 101.
The standard of living in Buffalo ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 151 places we measured in Minnesota. By definition, that implies Buffalo ranks as the #101 most expensive place in the North Star State.
For more reading on life in Buffalo, check out:
Buffalo Cost Of Living Vs. Minnesota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Buffalo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Buffalo is 101.
The Groceries index in Buffalo is 100.
The Health index in Buffalo is 111.
The Housing index in Buffalo is 102.
The Transportation index in Buffalo is 105.
The Utilities index in Buffalo is 99.
| Living Expense | Buffalo | Minnesota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 111 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Buffalo Cost Of Living Compared To Minnesota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Minnesota, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Buffalo Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Buffalo, MN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Minnesota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Buffalo is $373,016.
The Median Rent in Buffalo is $1,182.
The Median Income in Buffalo is $88,820.
The Home Value To Income in Buffalo is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Buffalo is 0.16x.
Buffalo, MN Costs By Category
Detailed Buffalo Services costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Buffalo Groceries costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Buffalo Health costs vs. Minnesota
Detailed Buffalo Transportation costs vs. Minnesota
Buffalo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Buffalo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Buffalo. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Otsego, MN has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Buffalo.
St. Michael, MN has a cost of living index of 112, 1.1x Buffalo.
Monticello, MN has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Buffalo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego, MN | 22,245 | 116 | 1.1x |
| St. Michael, MN | 20,010 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Monticello, MN | 14,858 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Rogers, MN | 13,685 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Mound, MN | 9,107 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Minnetrista, MN | 8,708 | 147 | 1.4x |
| Albertville, MN | 8,207 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Corcoran, MN | 7,302 | 131 | 1.3x |
| Delano, MN | 6,942 | 108 | 1.1x |
