($1,490) Movers From San Jose, CA to Buffalo, NY

What to know before moving from San Jose to Buffalo

Moving from San Jose to Buffalo means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in San Jose than in Buffalo, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how San Jose compares to Buffalo so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Buffalo are 61% lower than in San Jose, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Buffalo.
  Home prices in Buffalo are 85.3% lower than in San Jose.
• Income in Buffalo is 23.9% lower than in San Jose, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Buffalo include UBS, Delaware North, and Human.
• The cost of living for a single person in Buffalo is 29.5% lower than in San Jose. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Buffalo is 31.5% lower than in San Jose.
• The unemployment rate in Buffalo is 43.94% higher than in San Jose.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Buffalo, since the city’s sales taxes in Buffalo are 6.72% lower than in San Jose.
• One perk of moving to Buffalo is paying less in state income taxes, which are 18.05% lower than in San Jose.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,114.04 in Buffalo to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in San Jose.

How life is different in San Jose vs. Buffalo

• Buffalo's population is about 71% less than San Jose.
• Buffalo's public transportation has a similar score to San Jose.
• Buffalo is more walkable than San Jose with a score of 67 out of 100 vs San Jose's 51 out of 100.
• Both Buffalo and San Jose have the same bike-friendliness score of 62 out of 100, meaning Buffalo is about as safe for cyclists as San Jose. Typically, cities that have scores of 20 or higher are seen as reasonably safe, though the higher the score, the more safely accessible a city is for bicycling.
• Buffalo's crime rate is lower than San Jose with a score of 8.0 compared to San Jose's 47.73. This means that Buffalo neighborhoods are safer than 8.0% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and San Jose neighborhoods are safer than 47.73%.
• Buffalo and San Jose are considered to be equally safe.
• Air quality in Buffalo is moderate, and in San Jose it's moderate.

Other things to consider for your San Jose vs. Buffalo move

• Weather: Best months to move to Buffalo are August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Buffalo, while January and December are the least comfortable months due to extreme winter weather.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: New York requires moving companies to have a license and obtain a New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) number. A NYDOT license ensures your mover is in compliance with the state's safety, insurance, and operational regulations. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a New York moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: New York does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Buffalo. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Choose Released Value Protection for no-cost, minimal coverage from movers. They're responsible for a maximum of 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage, discuss alternatives with your moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Buffalo

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Queen City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Buffalo.

Helpful moving resources