Cost of Living Comparison
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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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BuffalovsChicago

Moving from Buffalo to Chicago will cost approximately $199,077 more on median home prices (61.0% higher). Monthly rent is $829 more expensive in Chicago. Note that median income is 8.7% lower in Chicago.

Housing
61.0% more
Rent
61.0% more
View BuffaloView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Buffalo, NY

Median Home Price$326,197
Monthly Rent$1,359
Median Income$80,175
Population258,066
Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274+61.0%
Monthly Rent
$2,189+61.0%
Median Income
$73,194-8.7%
Population2,720,556
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Buffalo

2015$826
2020$1,019
2025$1,359

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

Buffalo

Housing$10,874
Food$6,205
Transport$12,385
Healthcare$11,162
Total$41,010

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

61.0%
Housing Cost
more expensive in Chicago
$829
Monthly Rent Difference
additional cost per month
8.7%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Buffalo

Population258,066
Median Age33.1 yrs
Violent Crime Rate308 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1048 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Buffalo

308
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1048
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Buffalo?

Buffalo is 61.0% cheaper for housing than Chicago. The median home price in Buffalo is $326,197 compared to $525,274 in Chicago.

What is the rent difference between Buffalo and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while Buffalo averages $1,359. That's a difference of $829 per month, or $9,954 annually.

How do incomes compare between Buffalo and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 8.7% lower than Buffalo's median of $80,175.

Which city is safer: Buffalo or Chicago?

Buffalo has a violent crime rate of 308 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Buffalo is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.