Buffalo

Buffalo, NY

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Welcome to Queen City, the second largest city in New York State

Urban Affordable Entertainment Lakefront Diverse

The secret is out – Buffalo is an idyllic city for renters on a budget with its low cost of living and affordable apartments. As the second largest city in the State of New York, Buffalo is a hub for innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and so many more. Known as the Queen City, Buffalo is also nicknamed the “City of Light” because it was one of the first metropolises to benefit from the light powered by the Niagara River.

Nestled along Lake Erie, Buffalo is home to an array of lush parks and beautiful views. There’s no shortage of entertainment options in this major metropolitan area. Residents enjoy cheering on the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field, listening to live music at Canalside, and sipping a pint at one of the many local breweries in town. The city’s affluent past has left behind historic architecture, ranging from grand buildings in Downtown to 19th century Victorian mansions.

Buffalo’s thriving community appreciates the city’s events like Taste of Buffalo and Allentown Art Festival. The Buffalo Zoo, Delaware Park, the Buffalo Museum of Science, and Kleinhans Music Hall are just a few of the major attractions awaiting your arrival in the city of Buffalo.

Explore the City

Aerial view of Buffalo

The beautiful Niagara Falls

Cheering on the Buffalo Bills

Niagara Falls State Park is a popular tourist destination

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Buffalo, NY is $1,049 for a studio, $1,159 for one bedroom, $1,392 for two bedrooms, and $1,493 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Buffalo has increased by 1.6% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,159/month
673 Sq Ft
House
$2,684/month
1,328 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,358/month
560 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Buffalo, NY

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Buffalo, NY is 4.7% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Buffalo is 5.9% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,049 - $1,493. You can expect to pay 2.7% less for groceries, 4.9% less for utilities, and 2.5% less for transportation.

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Transportation

68

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

39

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

62

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

City Honors School At Fosdick Masten Park

Public

Grades 5-12

1,080 Students

8
out of 10

Frederick Olmsted 64 At 78

Public

Grades PK-4

558 Students

7
out of 10

Frederick Olmsted 56

Public

Grades 5-12

904 Students

6
out of 10

Charles A Lindbergh Elementary School

Public

Grades K-4

480 Students

6
out of 10

Herbert Hoover Middle School

Public

Grades 5-7

758 Students

5
out of 10

City Honors School At Fosdick Masten Park

Public

Grades 5-12

1,080 Students

8
out of 10

Frederick Olmsted 56

Public

Grades 5-12

904 Students

6
out of 10

Kenmore West Senior High School

Public

Grades 8-12

1,358 Students

5
out of 10

Herbert Hoover Middle School

Public

Grades 5-7

758 Students

5
out of 10

Buffalo Academy For The Visual And Perform Arts

Public

Grades 5-12

566 Students

5
out of 10

City Honors School At Fosdick Masten Park

Public

Grades 5-12

1,080 Students

8
out of 10

Hutchinson Central Technical High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,175 Students

6
out of 10

Frederick Olmsted 56

Public

Grades 5-12

904 Students

6
out of 10

Leonardo Da Vinci High School

Public

Grades 9-12

372 Students

6
out of 10

Kenmore West Senior High School

Public

Grades 8-12

1,358 Students

5
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Buffalo Museum of Science
  • Canalside
  • Buffalo Zoo
  • Delaware Park
  • Buffalo Harbor State Park

Airports

  • Buffalo Niagara International
  • Niagara Falls International

Top Apartments in Buffalo

Houses for Rent in Buffalo

Property Management Companies in Buffalo, NY

Living in Buffalo

Transportation

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The Buffalo Niagara International Airport is located here, and serves over 5 million passengers a year, from around the world. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority operates public transit in town. Public transit in Buffalo includes a wide-ranging public bus system and a well-used metro railway. Two Amtrak stations are located in town, and Buffalo has easy interstate access from any part of the city.

Highlights

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When comparing Buffalo to cities in Canada, Hamilton comes close to its strong identity as a blue collar town.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.