Syracuse, NY vs Buffalo, NY: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Buffalo, NY has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% lower than Syracuse, NY.

Syracuse, NY · modeled 2BR rent: $1,380 / month
Buffalo, NY · modeled 2BR rent: $1,285 / 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 Syracuse, NY and Buffalo, NY 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

Current salary in Syracuse, NY

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $99.12/month in Buffalo, NY

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,189 in Buffalo, NY

Regional cost estimates: Syracuse, NY uses Newark, NJ. Buffalo, NY uses Cleveland, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$99.12

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$1.2K

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.

Syracuse, NY

Population:146K

Cost Index:

96.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$177K

Buffalo, NY

Population:275K

Cost Index:

94.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$188K

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Syracuse, NY

The Empire State

146K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New York, this city has a population of 146K residents.

Buffalo, NY

The Empire State

275K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New York, this city has a population of 275K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Syracuse, NY vs Buffalo, NY

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.

Category	Syracuse, NY	Buffalo, NY	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,464/mo	$1,618/mo	↑ $154more	10.5%
Housing	$1,864/mo	$1,970/mo	↑ $106more	5.7%
Healthcare	$668/mo	$582/mo	↓ $86.40less	12.9%
All Utilities	$579/mo	$513/mo	↓ $65.57less	11.3%
Other	$1,856/mo	$1,844/mo	↓ $11.59less	0.6%
Groceries	$1,068/mo	$1,071/mo	↑ $2.88more	0.3%

Transportation

↑ 10.5%

Syracuse, NY

$1,464

Buffalo, NY

$1,618

Difference

$154

Housing

↑ 5.7%

Syracuse, NY

$1,864

Buffalo, NY

$1,970

Difference

$106

Healthcare

↓ 12.9%

Syracuse, NY

$668

Buffalo, NY

$582

Difference

$86.40

less

All Utilities

↓ 11.3%

Syracuse, NY

$579

Buffalo, NY

$513

Difference

$65.57

less

Other

↓ 0.6%

Syracuse, NY

$1,856

Buffalo, NY

$1,844

Difference

$11.59

less

Groceries

↑ 0.3%

Syracuse, NY

$1,068

Buffalo, NY

$1,071

Difference

$2.88

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$990

To$1,055

↑ $65.00

1 Bed

From$1,110

To$1,090

↓ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,380

To$1,285

↓ $95.00

3 Bed

From$1,680

To$1,570

↓ $110

Syracuse, NYZIP-level data

1BR range: $990–$1,270/mo

Buffalo, NYZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$1,620/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 Syracuse, NY

$7,599

Monthly in Buffalo, NY

$99.12

Difference

Home Values

Syracuse

Buffalo

$177K

Median Value

$188K

↑ +3.5%

YoY Change

↑ +2.5%

↑ +55.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.7%

$138K - $348K

Price Range

$108K - $558K

Homes in Buffalo are 6% more expensive than Syracuse

Calculate payment - Syracuse Calculate payment - Buffalo

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Syracuse, NY

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New York State Tax

Effective: 6.4%

$9.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.0%

$46.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,620/month

$103.4K

Buffalo, NY

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New York State Tax

Effective: 6.4%

$9.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.0%

$46.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,620/month

$103.4K

Additional Tax Information

Syracuse, NY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:1.2%

Buffalo, NY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:1.2%

💡 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.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Syracuse, NY: No data yet

Buffalo, NY

42/100

0.6% sidewalk tags · 1.9% cycling tags

Environment

Syracuse

Buffalo

N/A

Air Quality

54 Moderate

Good Air Days

37.2%

98 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

Before moving from Syracuse, NY to Buffalo, NY

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Buffalo, NY for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Syracuse, NY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Syracuse to Buffalo moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Syracuse, NY vs Buffalo, NY

How do the cost estimates for Syracuse, NY and Buffalo, NY compare?

Buffalo, NY has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% lower than Syracuse, NY. 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 Syracuse, NY, the model estimates $151,189 in Buffalo, NY. 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 Syracuse, NY and Buffalo, NY?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,380/month in Syracuse, NY and $1,285/month in Buffalo, NY. 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.