City comparison
Buffalo, NY vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Buffalo, NY are 3.2% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $103,200 in Buffalo, NY to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,139 a month in Buffalo, NY versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Buffalo, NY and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,477 a year higher in Buffalo, NY than in Lexington, KY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Buffalo, NY to Lexington, KY ($111,301 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.3% in real buying power.
- Buffalo, NY: price level 95.8 (cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Buffalo, NY | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.8 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,917 in Lexington | $103,181 in Buffalo |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,139/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,790 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Buffalo | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 81.0 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 129.5 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 95.8 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Buffalo, NY → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,477/yr.
79 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Buffalo, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,477/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Buffalo, NY is in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Buffalo, NY to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Buffalo, NY | Lexington, KY | Real change, Buffalo → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,543 | $61,722 | −1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,091 | $74,678 | −1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,598 | $89,508 | −1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,301 | $106,437 | −1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,525 | $125,776 | −1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Buffalo, NY | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Buffalo dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,490 | $61,460 | $63,415 (−17.1%) |
| Software Developers | $127,850 | $123,510 | $127,439 (−0.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,120 | $77,780 | $80,254 (−2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,060 | $79,040 | $81,554 (−17.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.