City Comparison
Cheyenne vs Buffalo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Buffalo scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cheyenne
Buffalo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Buffalo is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
27% lower than in Cheyenne.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cheyenne's average rent is
31% higher than Buffalo's.
| Metric | Cheyenne | Buffalo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,367 | $1,046 | +31% |
| Groceries | $705 | $450 | +57% |
| Utilities | $352 | $180 | +96% |
| Transport | $250 | $120 | +108% |
| Healthcare | $141 | $250 | -44% |
| Monthly Total | $2,815 | $2,046 | +38% |
| Cost Index | 100 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Buffalo offers 27% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Buffalo delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cheyenne is estimated at
$75,000 vs $40,764 in Buffalo.
| Metric | Cheyenne | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,402 | $75,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $40,764 |
| Purchasing Power | 54,402 idx | 78,947 idx |
| Household Income | $78,839 | $50,041 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Buffalo runs warmer on average — a 49.5°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Buffalo comes out ahead with 224 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Buffalo sees 43.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cheyenne | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 49.50°F |
| Summer High | °F | 78.90°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 20.20°F |
| Rainfall | in | 40.70 in |
| Snowfall | in | 43.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 224 | |
| Humidity | % | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Cheyenne has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Buffalo.
Buffalo scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Buffalo leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cheyenne | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 16 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 40.0/100 | 60.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Buffalo is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Cheyenne.
From a growth perspective, Cheyenne is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cheyenne has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cheyenne | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,580 | 274,006 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.11% | — |
| Median Age | 38.9 | 34.3 |
| Unemployment | 3.70% | 5.70% |
| GDP | — | $109.5B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cheyenne
Advantages
Cheyenne's unemployment rate of 3.7% (Q4 2024) is lower than the national average, indicating a healthy job market.
The average commute time in Cheyenne is only 16 minutes, significantly shorter than many other U.S. cities.
Overall crime rates in Cheyenne decreased by 8% in 2025 compared to 2024, and continued to decline by 12.4% in 2026.
The cost of living in Cheyenne is comparable to the national average, with utilities being 5.2% lower.
Cheyenne offers a strong sense of community and rich Western heritage, highlighted by events like Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Drawbacks
Cheyenne's crime rate is higher than 99% of other communities within Wyoming and higher than average for cities of similar population size.
Public transportation options are limited, leading to a high reliance on personal vehicles.
Groceries in Cheyenne are approximately 1.7% pricier than the national average.
While overall healthcare costs are lower, a doctor's visit without insurance can be 16.2% higher than the national average.
The city experiences cold and long winters with significant snowfall.
Buffalo
Advantages
The cost of living in Buffalo is lower than the national average, particularly for housing and utilities. [19]
Buffalo has a shorter average commute time (19.9 minutes) compared to the national average. [3]
The city is experiencing significant investment and redevelopment in various neighborhoods, including downtown. [11, 24]
Buffalo has a diverse and growing economy with strong sectors in healthcare and education. [3, 24]
The city offers a rich cultural scene with numerous museums, performing arts venues, and annual festivals. [11]
Drawbacks
Buffalo's unemployment rate in July 2026 was 5.70%, higher than the national average. [31]
The poverty rate in Buffalo is 26%, which is higher than the national average. [3]
Despite downtown growth, a lack of amenities like grocery stores and infrequent weekend public transit can be a drawback. [18]
Job losses were observed in some sectors like manufacturing and financial activities in Western New York in August 2026. [22]
Buffalo Public Schools score below the New York state average in mathematics and English Language Arts proficiency. [23]
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cheyenne
#578Wyoming, USA
46.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,367
Avg Salary
$54,402
Cost Index
100
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.11%
Unemployment
3.70%
Livability
72
Business
65
Buffalo
#342New York, USA
60.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,046
Avg Salary
$75,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
224/yr
Avg Temp
49.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.70%
Livability
74
Business
68
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