Salary Needed to Live in Buffalo as a Single

A single adult living independently needs approximately $18,987/year to live comfortably in Buffalo, NY — including 10% savings.

Comfortable Salary
$18,987
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$16,350
no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$981
11% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Buffalo

ExpenseBuffaloNat'l AvgDiff
🏠 Studio/1BR Rent$124$113+10%
🛒 Groceries$20$17+18%
⚡ Utilities$13$14-7%
🚗 Transportation$21$26-19%
🛡️ Car Insurance$179$229-22%
🏥 Health Insurance$49$58-16%
Internet$58$65-11%
Phone$76$85-11%
Dining & Social$267$300-11%
Entertainment$107$120-11%
Personal Care$67$75-11%
Total Monthly$981$1,102-11%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$981
Target savings (10%):$127/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$1,108
Effective tax rate:28%

Gross annual salary needed:$18,987

Other Household Types in Buffalo

Couple (No Kids)
$26,280/yr
$1,314/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$55,684/yr
$2,645/mo expenses
Retiree
$19,576/yr
$1,093/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in BuffaloCity OverviewAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a single person need in Buffalo?
A single person needs approximately $18,987/year ($1,582/month gross) to live comfortably in Buffalo with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Buffalo?
A studio/1br in Buffalo costs approximately $124/month, which is the largest single expense at 13% of the total budget.
Is Buffalo affordable for a single person?
Yes, Buffalo is 11% more affordable than the national average for a single person.
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