Buffalo NY
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UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

#2. Buffalo – Affordable Cities 2018

When most people think about Buffalo, they tend to first think of snow and hot sauce, but there’s something else about this New York city that should come to mind: affordability. Buffalo residents spend around 35% less than the average American on necessities, but even less on areas like healthcare and transportation. Buffalo is also extremely inexpensive for housing — in fact, it has the lowest median home price on this list, at $76,540. Hot stuff, right there.


Can You Guess Which Other Cities Are New York’s Most Affordable?


But why else should you be saying “Buffa-hello!”? Well, besides having a strong economy (especially in fields like biomedicine and finance); quality public schools; nine colleges and universities (including the University at Buffalo, a tier 1 research university); and two large hospitals to tend to the local populations, Buffalo offers residents countless ways to stay entertained and engaged.


Check Out More Fun Things to Do in Buffalo


Sports fans can cheer on the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, or the Class AAA Buffalo Bisons, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. Buffalo Zoo is America’s third-oldest zoo and is home to more than 1,200 animals, including snow leopards and Siberian tigers. (Also: two adorable polar bear lovebirds.) The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, one of the best contemporary art galleries in the country, is a great place to admire art by the masters. For a more immersive art experience, you can tour the Darwin D. Martin House Complex, which has been ranked as one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s greatest works.

Buffalo is also part of the Niagara Wine Trail (be sure to try the ice wine!). And if you want to check an unforgettable destination off your bucket list, you can drive just outside the city limits to see Niagara Falls.

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