Uprootmap
Erie vs Buffalo
Erie and Buffalo
Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Buffalo are close to the US rate in this release, 6.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Erie to Buffalo
In 2022-2023, 57 households filed a move from Erie to Buffalo (about 93 people, average adjusted gross income $54,842). 49 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $804 in Erie and $1,169 in Buffalo. Erie has a state tax on wages. Buffalo has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Buffalo is 95% of the national level for the same work, against 85% in Erie.
Buffalo averages 166 sunny days, with July highs around 80°F and January nights around 18°F. Erie is 172 sunny days, 79°F in July, 28°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Buffalo and 20 in Erie.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 57 households moved Erie → Buffalo (about 93 people, average AGI $54,842). 49 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Erie and Buffalo changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 111 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Buffalo
Questions
Is Buffalo cheaper than Erie after tax and rent?
No. Buffalo leaves about $244 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $804 in Erie and $1,169 in Buffalo.
Does Buffalo have state income tax?
Buffalo is in New York, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Erie to Buffalo?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.