Albany, NY vs Buffalo, NY
Simple answer
You'd likely save $288 a month in Buffalo.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is housing prices. The BEA housing price parity differs by 21.6 points (Albany 102.6, Buffalo 81.0).
New York taxes wages at rates up to 10.90%. New York taxes wages at rates up to 10.90%. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in New York. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in New York.
Both metros are in New York, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Albany lines up with about $72,196 in Buffalo on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Albany
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,711
- HUD area
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA
- Census median gross rent
- $1,341
- All-items price parity
- 99.6
- Goods price parity
- 99.7
- Utilities price parity
- 134.0
- Mean commute
- 23.7 min
- Median household income
- $86,637
Buffalo
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,423
- HUD area
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA
- Census median gross rent
- $1,114
- All-items price parity
- 95.8
- Goods price parity
- 99.7
- Utilities price parity
- 129.5
- Mean commute
- 21.5 min
- Median household income
- $72,300
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$72,196
Salary in Buffalo that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$71,640
Gross salary in Buffalo whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$62,376
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | New York | New York |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | up to 10.90% | up to 10.90% |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 8.5% | 8.5% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 1.45% | 1.45% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $5,818 a year in New York and $5,818 in New York. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in New York
Albany and Buffalo are in New York. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
AlbanyLikely eligible
BuffaloLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
AlbanyLikely eligible
BuffaloLikely eligible
WIC
AlbanyLikely eligible
BuffaloLikely eligible
School meals
AlbanyLikely eligible
BuffaloLikely eligible
LIHEAP
AlbanyMaybe
BuffaloMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
AlbanyLikely eligible
BuffaloLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
AlbanyLikely eligible
BuffaloLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
AlbanyUnlikely
BuffaloUnlikely
Lifeline phone and internet
AlbanyLikely eligible
BuffaloLikely eligible
SSI
AlbanyUnlikely
BuffaloUnlikely
| Program | Albany | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Albany
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Albany.
- Albany and San Francisco · rent gap $1,986
- Albany and San Jose · rent gap $1,561
- Albany and Boston · rent gap $1,297
- Albany and New York · rent gap $1,260
- Albany and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,253
- Albany and San Diego · rent gap $1,112
- Albany and Miami · rent gap $853
- Albany and Seattle · rent gap $838
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.