What is the cost of living in University at Buffalo, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, University at Buffalo has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, University at Buffalo has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in University at Buffalo ranks as #106 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies University at Buffalo ranks as the #230 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in University at Buffalo, check out:
University at Buffalo Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in University at Buffalo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in University at Buffalo is 110.
The Groceries index in University at Buffalo is 107.
The Health index in University at Buffalo is 117.
The Housing index in University at Buffalo is 115.
The Transportation index in University at Buffalo is 114.
The Utilities index in University at Buffalo is 111.
| Living Expense | University at Buffalo | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 117 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 111 | 100 |
University at Buffalo Cost Of Living Compared To New York Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New York, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in University at Buffalo Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
University at Buffalo, NY Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New York, 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 University at Buffalo is $0.
The Median Rent in University at Buffalo is $2,047.
The Median Income in University at Buffalo is -.
The Home Value To Income in University at Buffalo is nanx.
The Rent To Monthly Income in University at Buffalo is nanx.
| Statistic | University at Buffalo | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $0 | $507,794 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,047 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | - | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | nanx | 5.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | nanx | 0.23x | 0.21x |
University at Buffalo, NY Costs By Category
Detailed University at Buffalo Services costs vs. New York
| Item | University at Buffalo | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.3 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $14.6 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.65 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed University at Buffalo Groceries costs vs. New York
| Item | University at Buffalo | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.16 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.26 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed University at Buffalo Health costs vs. New York
| Item | University at Buffalo | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $75.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $103.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed University at Buffalo Transportation costs vs. New York
| Item | University at Buffalo | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.79 | $59.92 |
Detailed University at Buffalo Utilities costs vs. New York
| Item | University at Buffalo | New York |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $173.44 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.54 | $192.25 |
University At Buffalo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around University at Buffalo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around University at Buffalo. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cheektowaga, NY has a cost of living index of 98, 0.8x University at Buffalo.
North Tonawanda, NY has a cost of living index of 97, 0.8x University at Buffalo.
Kenmore, NY has a cost of living index of 105, 0.9x University at Buffalo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheektowaga, NY | 76,056 | 98 | 0.8x |
| North Tonawanda, NY | 30,198 | 97 | 0.8x |
| Kenmore, NY | 15,044 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Depew, NY | 15,000 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Eggertsville, NY | 14,894 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Lancaster, NY | 10,113 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Hamburg, NY | 9,792 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Harris Hill, NY | 6,069 | 121 | 1.0x |
| East Aurora, NY | 5,993 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Williamsville, NY | 5,469 | 113 | 1.0x |








