CostIndexUSA

Buffalo, NY vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostNY
Buffalo
95.8
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
WA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Buffalo and Yakima have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing10.4%
Buffalo
81
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+5.3%
Buffalo
99.7
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
Buffalo
102.6
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Buffalo
92.9
Yakima
94.5
Utilities29.0%
Buffalo
129.5
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Buffalo to see what you'd need to earn in Yakima to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$79,800
$200 less needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 95.8) = salary × 0.9969. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Buffalo, NY

Median Home Price
$269,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
81
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.3×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Buffalo has 10.4% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

Income & Job Market

Buffalo, NY

Median Household Income
$69,900
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
261,025
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceGovernment

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Buffalo, NY
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.