Buffalo, NY at a glance
Median household income
$50,041$4,170 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Buffalo, NY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,105 | $13,260 | $44,200 | 26.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,139 | $13,668 | $45,560 | 27.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,343 | $16,116 | $53,720 | 32.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,640 | $19,680 | $65,600 | 39.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,869 | $22,428 | $74,760 | 44.8% |
What a typical income covers in Buffalo, NY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $50,041 a year ($4,170 a month before tax).
What $50,041 leaves after New York taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New York tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New York
Living in Buffalo, NY: common questions
What is the median household income in Buffalo, NY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Buffalo, NY is $50,041 per year (approximately $4,170 per month).
What is the average rent in Buffalo, NY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,105 for a studio, $1,139 for one bedroom, $1,343 for two, $1,640 for three and $1,869 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Buffalo, NY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 4.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 95.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
To keep a $1,343 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $53,720 a year, or $4,477 a month. That is 107% of what the typical household in Buffalo, NY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Buffalo, NY?
On the local median income of $50,041 ($4,170 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,085 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,251 for everything else and $834 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,343 takes 64% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Buffalo, NY?
Homes in New York paid 29.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $265. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.