Convert your annual salary to hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay in Buffalo, and compare it to the local minimum wage and MIT living wage for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Buffalo minimum wage: $16.00/hour | Living wage: $20.50/hour
Median household income in Buffalo is about $47,000. The applicable minimum wage is $16.00/hour, and the MIT living wage for a single adult is about $20.50/hour. Use the comparisons below to see where a given salary lands.
| Pay Benchmark (Buffalo) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $20.50 | $42,640 |
| Median household income | $22.60 | $47,000 |
| Standard full-time hours | - | 2,080 hours/year |
Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York and the hub of Western New York, with an economy rebuilt around healthcare and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, higher education, advanced manufacturing, financial services back offices, and cross-border trade with Canada.
| Local Metric | Buffalo (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 275,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Erie County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 95 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $20.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $40.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $16.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,250/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,500/month |
| Median home price | $230,000 |
| Median household income | $47,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 8.75% |
| Effective property tax rate | 2.3% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
Divide your annual salary by your total work hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks is 2,080 hours). For example, a $47,000 salary in Buffalo is about $22.60/hour at full time.
Median household income in Buffalo is around $47,000. Because the cost-of-living index is 95 (US average = 100) and average 1-bedroom rent is $1,250/month, what counts as comfortable depends heavily on housing costs.
The applicable minimum wage in Buffalo is $16.00/hour, which is about $33,280/year at full time. New York sets a regional minimum wage; outside New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, the rest-of-state rate applies, which rose to $16.00 on January 1, 2026 and is indexed to inflation after that.
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Erie County needs about $20.50/hour, roughly $42,640/year, to cover basic costs without assistance.
At full time, $47,000/year is about $22.60/hour, $3,917/month gross, and $1,808 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.