City Comparison

Beaumont vs Buffalo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Buffalo

New York
93
Below Average
$175,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$40,858
Median Income

The Verdict

16.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 16.1%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $89,423 in Buffalo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
72
Buffalo
Groceries
96
Beaumont
101
Buffalo
Utilities
102
Beaumont
107
Buffalo
Transportation
93
Beaumont
101
Buffalo
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
99
Buffalo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $89,423 in Buffalo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Buffalo equals $62,903 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Buffalo

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher Buffalo's 72, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $175,000. The $9,000 difference in home prices means roughly $588 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,000/mo in Buffalo, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 101 in Buffalo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $480/month in Buffalo. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 107 in Buffalo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $428 in Buffalo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 99 in Buffalo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $40,858 in Buffalo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $43,933 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $953/month in Buffalo. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Buffalo, median rent of $1,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 16.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,423 in Buffalo, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Buffalo's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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