Median rent is 1% lower in Buffalo ($1,046/mo vs $1,055/mo). Buying is cheaper in Buffalo, where the median home runs $164,200 versus $185,500. Households earn more in Cheektowaga ($68,613 vs $50,041 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (94.9).
City A
Buffalo, NY
City B
Cheektowaga, NY
How much would you need to earn in Cheektowaga, NY to maintain your standard of living from Buffalo, NY?
Equivalent salary in Cheektowaga, NY
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Buffalo
New York
Cheektowaga
New York
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,046/mo in Buffalo and $1,055/mo in Cheektowaga. Median home values are within 11% of each other: $164,200 in Buffalo and $185,500 in Cheektowaga.
Metric
Buffalo
Cheektowaga
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Buffalo
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Cheektowaga
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Buffalo (avg AQI 54.0) but not yet for Cheektowaga.
Pick Cheektowaga if you prioritize higher median household income ($68,613/yr).
Buffalo is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 94.9 versus 94.9 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Buffalo.
Median rent is $1,046/mo in Buffalo, NY and $1,055/mo in Cheektowaga, NY. Buffalo, NY has the lower rent by about 1%.
Median household income is $50,041 in Buffalo, NY and $68,613 in Cheektowaga, NY. Cheektowaga, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Buffalo, NY is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Cheektowaga, NY (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
