Albany vs Buffalo: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

On median home value, Albany comes in at $225,800 — 71% higher than Buffalo, where the median is $132,100.

Households earn a median $53,284 in Albany, compared with $46,184 in Buffalo.

Monthly rent typically costs $1,098 in Albany and $942 in Buffalo.

Metric	Albany, NY	Buffalo, NY
Population	99,224	276,688
Median home value	$225,800	$132,100
Median household income	$53,284	$46,184
Median gross rent	$1,098	$942
Climate risk (FEMA)	—	Relatively High

Buffalo, NY beats Albany, NY on both housing metrics we track — home value and rent — though this doesn't capture the full cost of living.

Moving between Albany and Buffalo

Albany and Buffalo are 257 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Albany → Buffalo	Buffalo → Albany
Median rent	−$156/mo (−14%)	+$156/mo (+17%)
Median home value	−$93,700 (−41%)	+$93,700 (+71%)
Median household income	−$7,100 (−13%)	+$7,100 (+15%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$691 – $1,068
2-3 bedroom	$1,958 – $2,996
4+ bedroom house	$3,543 – $5,404

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Albany, NY Buffalo, NY

296 miles estimated driving distance · 4.9 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$423 – $539

Includes an estimated $104 in fuel (30 gal at ~10 mpg) over 1 driving day.

Professional Movers

$2,103 – $3,573

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.