Buffalo, MN vs Mankato, MN

Mankato is moderately more affordable than Buffalo, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Buffalo scores 93 compared to 84 for Mankato, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Buffalo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Buffalo is $1,111/month compared to $1,089/month in Mankato — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mankato is more affordable at $250,600 median vs $281,900.

Median household income in Buffalo is $88,306 compared to $64,826 in Mankato (+36.2%). While Buffalo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buffalo spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, less than the 20.2% in Mankato.