City Comparison · 2026
Buffalo vs Chicago
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Buffalo = $148k in Chicago
Metric
Buffalo
Chicago
COL Index
✓0.93
1.38
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,100/mo
$2,000/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,380/mo
$2,600/mo
State Income Tax
NY
IL
$100k Take-Home
$73,522
✓$73,786
$100k Effective Rate
26.48%
✓26.21%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$60,322
$49,786
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Buffalo NY | Chicago IL |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,420 $3,952/mo · 20.97% eff. | $47,278 $3,940/mo · 21.2% eff. |
| $100,000 | $73,522 $6,127/mo · 26.48% eff. | $73,786 $6,149/mo · 26.21% eff. |
| $150,000 | $104,939 $8,745/mo · 30.04% eff. | $105,853 $8,821/mo · 29.43% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buffalo or Chicago cheaper to live in?
Buffalo has a cost-of-living index of 0.93 while Chicago is 1.38 (1.00 = US average). Buffalo is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Buffalo is $1,100/month vs $2,000/month in Chicago.
How much more do you need to earn in Chicago vs Buffalo?
$100k in Buffalo = $148k in Chicago. Cost of living in Chicago is higher by 48.4%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Buffalo or Chicago?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $73,522 in NY (Buffalo) and $73,786 in IL (Chicago). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $60,322 in Buffalo vs $49,786 in Chicago.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideBuffalo vs New York City cost of livingBuffalo vs Los Angeles cost of livingBuffalo vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in BuffaloCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in BuffaloRegistered Nurse salary in BuffaloWhere does $100k rank nationally?