Buffalo is a great city to move to, with its rich history, diverse neighborhoods, and growing job market.

Before You Move

Step 1: Save Money

You need to save money for an apartment to pay your rent, relocation, and living expenses until you find a job. Remote working for a company outside of Buffalo is an emerging trend, and relocating to Buffalo with a remote job can be an excellent way to enjoy a less-expensive, higher quality life compared to larger cities.

Some expenses you can expect:

• Security deposit – most apartments in Buffalo require a security deposit of 1-2 months worth of rent, due before you move in.
• Living expenses – you will need to buy food and things for your apartment. Most apartments on the market in Buffalo are “unfurnished.” They include appliances, and you will need to provide furniture. There are some “furnished” apartments available as well.
• Relocation expenses – if you are not moving to Buffalo with a job, you will need money to cover travel and moving expenses, including paying for the time you spend on traveling/lodging while finding an apartment/house.
• Winter clothes – you will want a nice winter coat, boots, and possibly snow pants, as well a shovel and/or snowbrush or snowbroom if you have a car

Step 2: Find a Job

Although Buffalo is relatively inexpensive compared to larger cities, you will still want to have a job to cover your living expenses. How to Find a Job.

Step 3: Find a Place to Live

Buffalo is the city of good neighbors – welcome, neighbor! If you want to live in the city proper (you do!), we recommend first exploring the neighborhoods to understand the lay of the land.

Be In Buffalo also has a great Relocation Guide available here!

Regions in the Area

The Buffalo-Niagara Metropolitan area is segmented into several areas:

• City of Buffalo
• South Towns – Southern Suburban Towns and Villages (this area gets more snow and has a more suburban and/or rural vibe). Orchard Park and Hamburg are the faster growing towns in the southtowns. Eden, Angola, Boston, and North Collins are “farming villages” with a mixture or rural and suburban housing. East Aurora, birthplace of President Millard Filmore and Fisher Price, was rated the third best town to raise a family within New York State.
• North Towns – Northern Suburban Towns, Villages and Cities (much more heavily populated). Amherst, Kenmore, and Williamsville are the fastest growing towns in the North Towns, and have some of the best school districts in the region.
• Niagara County – Niagara Falls, Lake Ontario Beaches, Wineries, Old Fort Niagara
• The Southern Tier – Ski country, Alleghany State Park, Resort Towns, Random College Towns and the National Comedy Center
• St Catherines-Niagara – The 400,000 people who live directly across the border. Wineries, restaurants, tacky tourist traps.

City of Buffalo

The city of Buffalo is divided up into 4 quadrants with an unofficial “Central” area consisting of Downtown, Allentown and Elmwood Village. Each quadrant is then subdivided into neighborhoods, though people often just refer to their quadrant.

• South Buffalo – Anything South of the Buffalo River
• Westside – Anything West of Richmond to the Niagara River. Probably Buffalo’s most diverse area with tons of immigrant and refugee groups.
• North Buffalo – Anything North of Delaware Park between Main and Elmwood Ave
• Eastside / East Buffalo – Anything East of Main Street, North of the Buffalo River. This is by far the largest quadrant and is a mix of urban prairie, old blue collared neighborhoods, immigrant enclaves, impoverished areas and some pockets of middle class streets.

Trendy Neighborhoods

These are all well-known neighborhoods with nice walkable commercial districts.

• Allentown – Just North of Downtown. Gentrified artsy neighborhood by day and crazy nightlife spot by night.
• Elmwood Village – North of Allentown, South of Delaware Park. Lots of college kids from nearby Buff State and Canisius College University, young professionals and families. Lots of events at Bidwell Parkway, easy access to Delaware Park and the Museum District.
• North Buffalo – North of Delaware Park – Less college kids and more young professionals and families. Hertel is probably the best commercial corridor in the entire city.
• Parkside – charming, historic area that offers residents a blend of urban living and suburban tranquility. With its tree-lined streets, stunning architecture, and proximity to Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, Parkside is an ideal location for those seeking both natural beauty and easy access to local amenities.
• Lower Westside – The area directly NW of Downtown, West of Allentown – One of Buffalo’s most diverse neighborhoods. Lots of micro commercial districts such as 5 Points, Rhode Island Street, Niagara Street and Connecticut Street.
• Blackrock – North of Buffalo State. Home to the Skajaquada Creek Bike Path and the city’s only Wegmans. Also has a number of indie music venues and Chandler Street has become a hub of activity lately.

Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods

These are areas rough around the edges, but generally safe. These areas tend to look sketchier than they actually are.

• Downtown – In terms of entertainment, dining and nightlife options, few areas have downtown beat. However, traditionally downtown has been a business district and its only recently that apartments have been built en masse. Therefore, downtown lacks retail options and some of downtown can still be a ghost town outside of the 5-9 work week (if you don’t know where to look). Much of downtown is extremely nice, safe and well kept – there are corners that are barren however.
• Westside – Anything West of Richmond Ave. One of Buffalo’s most diverse neighborhoods. While some areas are still rough, stretches of Grant Street and Niagara Street have seen a lot of revitalization, specifically “Upper Rock” along Niagara between West Ferry and Forest.
• First Ward – The area SE of Downtown. Look into Riverworks, Barrel Factory, Silo City, the Buffalo Blueway and the old Cooperage. Also, the only neighborhood with convenient access to the Outer Harbor.
• Larkin – 1 Mile East of Downtown. Nearly completely abandoned 20 years ago, Larkin quickly became a secondary business district that also hosts a lot of cool events and is home to several breweries. Today, all the warehouses have been renovated and as more apartments and stores are built, the district is becoming more livable. However, the neighborhood still lacks some basics, but that’s not a huge issue if you have a car.
• South Buffalo – Home to Tesla, Caz Park, the Botanic Gardens and soon a Hollywood Movie Studio. South Buffalo has historically been a Irish enclave which is evident with all the neighborhood Irish pubs. Seneca Street has been seeing a lot of attention of late and is budding into a pretty nice commercial district.
• University Heights – Not really trendy, but also not up-and-coming University Heights is the neighborhood surrounding UB South Campus. Pretty solid commercial district with several great restaurants and two supermarkets, easy Metrorail access and the Tonawanda Rail Trail is great.

Suburban Walkable Villages

These are all mostly-walkable historic villages with nice commercial districts. While there are other villages out there, these are the larger ones with the most developed commercial districts.

• Kenmore – Kenmore is a charming and walkable village just north of Buffalo, known for its friendly atmosphere, excellent schools, and diverse array of shops and restaurants.
• Amherst, a suburban gem bordering Buffalo, offers residents top-rated schools, beautiful parks, and a variety of shopping and dining options, making it an ideal location for families and young professionals alike.
• Williamsville – A village within Amherst, after Elmwood, Williamsville is probably the most in demand area in the region. Mostly for the schools, but also for the events the village puts on every year.
• East Aurora – Home to the Roycroft Inn where the DIY movement was founded as well as Fischer Price and Moog Aerospace
• Hamburg – The largest of the South Town villages with the amenities to match.
• Orchard Park – A cozy, walkable village where residents can enjoy a mix of local shops, dining establishments, and scenic green spaces, while also being home to the Buffalo Bills’ stadium.
• Lewiston – situated along the Niagara River, is a picturesque village with a rich history, an array of local businesses, and numerous cultural events, all within walking distance of the charming waterfront.
• North Tonawanda – a lively and walkable city along the Erie Canal, featuring a thriving arts scene, historic sites, and a variety of dining and entertainment options for residents to enjoy.
• Lockport – a historic canal town with a revitalized downtown area, offering a range of shops, eateries, and cultural attractions, all within an easily walkable and picturesque setting.

Step 4: Get Health Insurance

Health insurance is important. If you don’t currently have health insurance or it is not offerred through your employer, NY Health Exchange https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ is a good place to start. If you are a remote worker – make sure your preferred doctors, dentist, etc are covered by your health insurance. If they are not, check with your health insurance about whether or not you can still use them under a waiver.

Step 5: Your First Month In Buffalo

During your first month in Buffalo, take the time to explore the city’s unique neighborhoods, diverse culinary scene, and abundant cultural attractions to quickly acclimate to your new surroundings. As you settle in, don’t forget to engage with the welcoming community, attend local events, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area, truly making Buffalo feel like home.

Some logistical things to take care of:

• Open a bank account – Buffalo is the HQ for M&T Bank, Evans Bank, Bank On Buffalo, and a number of credit unions. KeyBank has a large retail banking presence in Buffalo as well. HSBC also still maintains some of their back office presence here, but have fewer retail locations. A local bank account is very useful.
• Get a mobile phone – if you don’t already have one with a national provider, get a mobile phone. The City of Buffalo generally has good coverage with all of the majorUS mobile carriers. Some of the more rural areas in the region can have spotty coverage.
• Move in – sign your lease, and move into your apartment. Make sure to get renter’s insurance if you are renting a place. Most leases require it, though few landlords verify whether or not you hold a policy. Get it – it can cover theft of property even when outside your residence (ie: a bicycle or an item stolen from your vehicle).
• Forward your mail – through the USPS you can forward your mail to your new address in Buffalo: https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm 
• Bring your family – check out our school guide if you are considering moving your children to Buffalo.
• Get around in Buffalo
  • Public transit via NFTA bus and metro rail service are functional, but often not convenient. Always consider public transit when it is available and convenient. The Transit and Moovit apps are very helpful for determining this: https://metro.nfta.com/schedules/plan-your-trip. NFTA monthly passes are available and many local employers offer public transit programs that can provide this benefit pre-tax at a discounted rate. You can also buy your fares at metro stations and through the Token Transit app: https://metro.nfta.com/schedules/token-transit
  • If you find public transit to be too inconvenient for you, it is recommended to have a bicycle and/or car for more convenient transportation. Uber and Lyft, as well as taxi services, are available.
  • How to buy a bicycle
  • How to buy a car

Step 6: Your First Year in Buffalo

There’s lots of stuff to do in Buffalo. Get a bicycle and explore the city and region. If you move in the winter, Buffalo can seem a bit much. But don’t worry, the summer and fall in Buffalo are beautiful. And, there’s always winter sports to keep you busy. Also, Make friends!

Step 8: Your New Life in Buffalo

Once you settle in, it’s time to make new plans!
Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/Buffalo/comments/w2agig/moving_to_buffalo_faq_newcomers_visit_here_before/