Home project costs in Buffalo, NY
Every project we cover, priced for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Buffalo sits 135th of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 95.8 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 99.7 (66th). The metro has about 534,550 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 35 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 2 below, and 1 is level with it. French drain (+11%), retaining wall (+8%) and inground pool (+8%) sit highest, and laminate flooring (−5%), hardwood flooring (−1%) and attic insulation (level) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Buffalo, 7 miles away) shows a January average low of 19°F, a July average high of 80°F and 41 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are May through October; for exterior installation, they are April through November.
What local trades earn in Buffalo
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $21.72 | $24.34 | $32.68 | $22.66 | 1.07 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $24.07 | $30.53 | $35.88 | $29.12 | 1.05 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $27.62 | $35.41 | $44.52 | $28.78 | 1.23 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $24.67 | $34.73 | $45.04 | $30.67 | 1.13 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $26.80 | $30.12 | $30.79 | $27.41 | 1.10 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $27.73 | $37.47 | $44.80 | $30.38 | 1.23 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | $22.39 | $28.00 | $36.90 | $26.77 | 1.05 |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $28.03 | $30.09 | $36.28 | $26.65 | 1.13 |
Concrete & paving in Buffalo
Across these 7 projects, Buffalo averages +6% against national midpoints. Gravel driveway is highest at +7% and concrete slab lowest at +4%.
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Buffalo | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,350 | +4% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Buffalo | 600 sq ft | $3,850 – $9,850 | +7% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Buffalo | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,800 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Buffalo | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $10,900 | +7% |
| Paver patio cost in Buffalo | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,850 | +7% |
| Concrete patio cost in Buffalo | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,200 | +5% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Buffalo | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,350 | +5% |
Decks & outdoor in Buffalo
Across these 2 projects, Buffalo averages +3% against national midpoints. Composite deck is highest at +3% and wood deck lowest at +2%.
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Buffalo | 300 sq ft | $7,700 – $15,500 | +2% |
| Composite deck cost in Buffalo | 300 sq ft | $12,400 – $24,900 | +3% |
Building & additions in Buffalo
The 2 jobs here average +5% versus the US in Buffalo, from +4% (detached garage) to +6% (home addition).
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Buffalo | 576 sq ft | $30,200 – $60,500 | +4% |
| Home addition cost in Buffalo | 300 sq ft | $40,200 – $81,300 | +6% |
Doors & windows in Buffalo
Across these 5 projects, Buffalo averages +2% against national midpoints. Patio door is highest at +2% and front door lowest at +1%.
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Buffalo | 1 door | $720 – $3,750 | +2% |
| Storm door cost in Buffalo | 1 door | $360 – $960 | +2% |
| Front door cost in Buffalo | 1 door | $510 – $2,500 | +1% |
| Window replacement cost in Buffalo | 10 windows | $4,550 – $15,100 | +1% |
| Patio door cost in Buffalo | 1 door | $610 – $6,150 | +2% |
Fencing in Buffalo
Across these 4 projects, Buffalo averages +2% against national midpoints. Chain-link fence is highest at +4% and vinyl fence lowest at +1%.
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Buffalo | 150 linear ft | $3,100 – $7,800 | +2% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Buffalo | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,250 | +1% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Buffalo | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,400 | +4% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Buffalo | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,700 | +3% |
Roofing & exterior in Buffalo
Across these 5 projects, Buffalo averages +4% against national midpoints. Metal roof is highest at +7% and attic insulation lowest at level.
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Buffalo | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,600 – $13,300 | +7% |
| Metal roof cost in Buffalo | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,200 – $34,600 | +7% |
| Gutters cost in Buffalo | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,350 | +5% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Buffalo | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,700 – $26,000 | +3% |
| Attic insulation cost in Buffalo | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
Kitchen & bath in Buffalo
The 5 jobs here average +3% versus the US in Buffalo, from +1% (kitchen remodel) to +4% (bathroom remodel).
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Buffalo | 25 linear ft | $4,300 – $14,500 | +3% |
| Shower pan cost in Buffalo | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,900 | +4% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Buffalo | 120 sq ft | $18,800 – $31,900 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Buffalo | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,300 | +4% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Buffalo | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | +2% |
Landscaping & drainage in Buffalo
The 5 jobs here average +7% versus the US in Buffalo, from +3% (sod installation) to +11% (French drain).
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Buffalo | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +11% |
| Retaining wall cost in Buffalo | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,800 – $14,400 | +8% |
| Sod installation cost in Buffalo | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Buffalo | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,250 – $10,700 | +7% |
| Inground pool cost in Buffalo | 450 sq ft | $39,100 – $122,000 | +8% |
Flooring & interior in Buffalo
Across these 3 projects, Buffalo averages −1% against national midpoints. Tile flooring is highest at +2% and laminate flooring lowest at −5%.
| Project | Size | Buffalo range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Buffalo | 500 sq ft | $5,450 – $12,400 | −1% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Buffalo | 500 sq ft | $1,900 – $6,700 | −5% |
| Tile flooring cost in Buffalo | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | +2% |
Buffalo against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Buffalo comes out +4% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, none price higher and 5 lower. Youngstown is the lowest at −5% (165 miles) and Binghamton the highest at +4% (155 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NYthis page | 95.8 | 99.7 | +4% | |
| Rochester, NY | 60 miles | 97.0 | 99.7 | +2% |
| Erie, PA | 95 miles | 91.0 | 100.7 | level |
| Syracuse, NY | 130 miles | 95.7 | 99.7 | +3% |
| Binghamton, NY | 155 miles | 92.9 | 99.7 | +4% |
| State College, PA | 155 miles | 96.8 | 100.7 | +2% |
| Youngstown, OH | 165 miles | 87.4 | 93.6 | −5% |