Cost of Living Comparison Between Buffalo, NY and Charlotte, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Buffalo, NY and Charlotte, NC

😐 Solo nomad: Buffalo, NY is 2% more expensive than Charlotte, NC without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Buffalo, NY is 0.7% cheaper than Charlotte, NC without rent, and 11.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.09 $30.09
$18.34 $18.34
64.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.2 $86.2
$81.6 $81.6
5.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.2 $12.2
$10.18 $10.18
19.84%
Cappuccino
$5.42 $5.42
$4.84 $4.84
11.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.53 $2.53
5.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.95 $1.95
9.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.39 $5.39
$5.94 $5.94
-9.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 $6.92
$7.63 $7.63
-9.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.05 $1.05
-15.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.89 $3.89
0.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.72 $4.72
$4.18 $4.18
12.92%
Eggs
$4.02 $4.02
$4.65 $4.65
-13.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.17 $13.17
$16.79 $16.79
-21.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.13 $8.13
$16.89 $16.89
-51.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 $11.82
$17.22 $17.22
-31.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$5.84 $5.84
-34.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.59 $1.59
1.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.23 $5.23
$6.58 $6.58
-20.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$4.07 $4.07
19.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.68 $3.68
-33.15%
Onion (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.73 $2.73
32.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.73 $1.73
41.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.95 $1.95
25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74 $13.74
$7.83 $7.83
75.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 $17.78
$15.23 $15.23
16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.09 $2.09
-15.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.52 $7.52
$3.22 $3.22
133.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.9 $91.9
$87.4 $87.4
5.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.19 $5.19
$2.93 $2.93
77.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.84 $1.84
19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.39 $44.39
$29.61 $29.61
49.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$0.81 $0.81
11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K $32.3K
$34K $34K
-4.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$24.5K $24.5K
-0.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$254 $254
$139 $139
82.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.28 $46.28
$55.6 $55.6
-16.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61 $61
$73.4 $73.4
-16.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.36 $33.36
$52 $52
-35.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.5 $56.5
$18.23 $18.23
209.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.1 $14.1
$13.94 $13.94
1.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$901 $901
$1,306 $1,306
-30.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.6K $28.6K
$25.1K $25.1K
13.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.76 $45.76
$48.27 $48.27
-5.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.48 $46.48
$36.65 $36.65
26.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$102 $102
0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$158 $158
-28.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,561 $1,561
$1,873 $1,873
-16.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,173 $1,173
$1,530 $1,530
-23.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,043 $2,043
$3,666 $3,666
-44.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,747 $1,747
$2,482 $2,482
-29.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,235 $2,235
$3,681 $3,681
-39.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,904 $1,904
$2,627 $2,627
-27.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,351 $3,351
$4,315 $4,315
-22.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.51
0.31%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Buffalo, NY: October 29, 2025

Last update for Charlotte, NC: October 29, 2025

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