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

🙂 Solo nomad: Charlotte, NC is 2% cheaper than Buffalo, NY without rent, and 11.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Charlotte, NC is 0.7% more expensive than Buffalo, NY without rent, and 13.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.34 $18.34
$30.09 $30.09
-39.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6 $81.6
$86.2 $86.2
-5.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.18 $10.18
$12.2 $12.2
-16.56%
Cappuccino
$4.84 $4.84
$5.42 $5.42
-10.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.67 $2.67
-5.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.13 $2.13
-8.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$5.39 $5.39
10.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63 $7.63
$6.92 $6.92
10.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.89 $0.89
17.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.92 $3.92
-0.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$4.72 $4.72
-11.44%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.02 $4.02
15.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.79 $16.79
$13.17 $13.17
27.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.89 $16.89
$8.13 $8.13
107.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.22 $17.22
$11.82 $11.82
45.69%
Apples (1kg)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.85 $3.85
51.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.61 $1.61
-1.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.58 $6.58
$5.23 $5.23
25.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$4.87 $4.87
-16.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.46 $2.46
49.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.61 $3.61
-24.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.45 $2.45
-29.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.45 $2.45
-20.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.83 $7.83
$13.74 $13.74
-43.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.23 $15.23
$17.78 $17.78
-14.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.76 $1.76
18.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$7.52 $7.52
-57.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.4 $87.4
$91.9 $91.9
-4.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$5.19 $5.19
-43.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.2 $2.2
-16.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.61 $29.61
$44.39 $44.39
-33.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$0.9 $0.9
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34K $34K
$32.3K $32.3K
5.26%
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
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 $139
$254 $254
-45.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6 $55.6
$46.28 $46.28
20.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.4 $73.4
$61 $61
20.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 $52
$33.36 $33.36
55.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.23 $18.23
$56.5 $56.5
-67.71%
Cinema Ticket
$13.94 $13.94
$14.1 $14.1
-1.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$901 $901
44.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.1K $25.1K
$28.6K $28.6K
-12.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.27 $48.27
$45.76 $45.76
5.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.65 $36.65
$46.48 $46.48
-21.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$102 $102
-0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 $158
$113 $113
39.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,873 $1,873
$1,561 $1,561
19.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 $1,530
$1,173 $1,173
30.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,666 $3,666
$2,043 $2,043
79.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,482 $2,482
$1,747 $1,747
42.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,681 $3,681
$2,235 $2,235
64.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,627 $2,627
$1,904 $1,904
37.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charlotte, NC
Buffalo, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,315 $4,315
$3,351 $3,351
28.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.53
-0.31%

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

Last update for Charlotte, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Buffalo, NY: October 29, 2025

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