Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $980 in Cheyenne, WY. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY — about 21% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Cheyenne, WY

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$756
+24% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$824
+22% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,036
+28% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,478
+24% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$311,200
+17% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$77,176
+21% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$51,540
+14% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
38.9 yr
+4.0 yr in Cheyenne, WY
Homeownership
63.7%
67.7%
+4.0 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
32.9%
+4.8 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
16.1 min
+2.9 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
334.6
+67% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
3,030.3
+8% in Cheyenne, WY

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
46.5°F
+9.1°F in Cheyenne, WY
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
15.9 in
+2.0 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$4.29/gal
+16% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
14.8
+48% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$13.31
+8% in Anchorage, AK

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / WY)
None
4%
+4.0 pp in WY
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Anchorage vs Cheyenne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Cheyenne?
Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Cheyenne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Cheyenne?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Cheyenne under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).