Buffalo, WY vs Colusa, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Colusa, CA has a modeled overall cost index 48.0% higher than Buffalo, WY.

Buffalo, WY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,110 / month
Colusa, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,210 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Buffalo, WY and Colusa, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
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Estimated extra cost: $2,907/month in Colusa, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $184,881 in Colusa, CA

Regional cost estimates: Buffalo, WY uses Denver, CO. Colusa, CA uses Sacramento, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 48.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,907
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$34.9K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Buffalo, WY

Population:5K
Cost Index:
68.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$397K

Colusa, CA

Population:7K
Cost Index:
101.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$363K

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Buffalo, WY

The Equality State

5K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Wyoming, this city has a population of 5K residents.

💡 Advantage: Wyoming has no state income tax!

Colusa, CA

The Golden State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Buffalo, WY vs Colusa, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 56.9%
Buffalo, WY
$2,459
Colusa, CA
$3,858
Difference
$1,399
more
Other
↑ 41.7%
Buffalo, WY
$1,492
Colusa, CA
$2,115
Difference
$623
more
Transportation
↑ 35.2%
Buffalo, WY
$1,229
Colusa, CA
$1,662
Difference
$433
more
Groceries
↑ 21.4%
Buffalo, WY
$1,095
Colusa, CA
$1,329
Difference
$234
more
All Utilities
↑ 20.4%
Buffalo, WY
$552
Colusa, CA
$665
Difference
$113
more
Healthcare
↑ 15.6%
Buffalo, WY
$672
Colusa, CA
$777
Difference
$105
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$840
To$920
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$850
To$920
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,110
To$1,210
↑ $100
3 Bed
From$1,360
To$1,600
↑ $240
Buffalo, WYZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/mo

Colusa, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Buffalo, WY
$10,407
Monthly in Colusa, CA
$2,907
Difference

Home Values

Buffalo
Colusa
$397K
Median Value
$363K
↑ +2%
YoY Change
↓ -2.3%
↑ +40.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +19.9%

Homes in Colusa are 9% less expensive than Buffalo

Calculate payment - BuffaloCalculate payment - Colusa

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $10.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$886
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
7.1%
Rate difference

Buffalo, WY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wyoming State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Colusa, CA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
California State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,530/month
$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Buffalo, WY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%
Property Tax:0.6%

Colusa, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Buffalo
Colusa
55 Moderate
Air Quality
51 Moderate
35.2%
Good Air Days
49.7%
95 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊☀🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.4°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
69 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.4°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
69 days

Before moving from Buffalo, WY to Colusa, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Colusa, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Buffalo, WY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Buffalo to Colusa moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Colusa, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Buffalo, WY vs Colusa, CA

How do the cost estimates for Buffalo, WY and Colusa, CA compare?

Colusa, CA has a modeled overall cost index 48.0% higher than Buffalo, WY. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Buffalo, WY, the model estimates $184,881 in Colusa, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Buffalo, WY and Colusa, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,110/month in Buffalo, WY and $1,210/month in Colusa, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Wyoming and California on TaxTakeHome.com

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