FMR Lookup › New York › Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,105 | $995 – $1,216 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,139 | $1,025 – $1,253 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,343 | $1,209 – $1,477 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,640 | $1,476 – $1,804 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,869 | $1,682 – $2,056 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FY2026 FMRs are effective October 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $1,343 — 13% above the New York median of $1,185 across all 39 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY FMR area is a metro area covering: Erie County, Niagara County. One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Buffalo-Cheektowaga: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable New York markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glens Falls | $1,066 | $1,348 | $1,742 |
| Greene County | $1,118 | $1,373 | $1,813 |
| Sullivan County | $1,070 | $1,302 | $1,811 |
| Syracuse | $1,123 | $1,392 | $1,691 |
| Elmira | $978 | $1,283 | $1,606 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $1,071 | $1,405 | $1,907 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Buffalo-Cheektowaga.