Median rent is 3% lower in Buffalo ($1,046/mo vs $1,073/mo). Buying is cheaper in Buffalo, where the median home runs $164,200 versus $184,500. Households earn more in El Paso ($59,745 vs $50,041 a year). Taken together, Buffalo is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 94.9 against 97.3 — about 2% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in El Paso, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Buffalo is 2% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 94.9 in Buffalo vs 97.3 in El Paso (US national average = 100)
City A
Buffalo, NY
City B
El Paso, TX
How much would you need to earn in El Paso, TX to maintain your standard of living from Buffalo, NY?
Equivalent salary in El Paso, TX
$76,917
You'd need $1,917 more (3% higher).
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
El Paso
Texas
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 $1,073/mo in El Paso. Median home values are within 11% of each other: $164,200 in Buffalo and $184,500 in El Paso.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
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
El Paso
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
El Paso has cleaner air on average: 36.0 AQI (Good) compared to 54.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick El Paso if you prioritize higher median household income ($59,745/yr).
Pick El Paso if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 36.0).
Is Buffalo cheaper than El Paso?
Buffalo is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 94.9 versus 97.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in Buffalo.
How much is rent in Buffalo vs El Paso?
Median rent is $1,046/mo in Buffalo, NY and $1,073/mo in El Paso, TX. Buffalo, NY has the lower rent by about 3%.
Which has higher salaries — Buffalo or El Paso?
Median household income is $50,041 in Buffalo, NY and $59,745 in El Paso, TX. El Paso, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
El Paso, TX has better air quality on average: 36.0 AQI versus 54.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Buffalo or El Paso?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in El Paso to match my Buffalo income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Buffalo, NY is equivalent to roughly $102,556 in El Paso, TX (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
