Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Cheyenne?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 65% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Cheyenne?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Cheyenne?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Cheyenne under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Cheyenne Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $990 in Cheyenne, WY. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 65% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY — about 39% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Cheyenne, WY

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$756

+66% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$824

+67% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,036

+65% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,478

+56% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$311,200

+70% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$77,176

+39% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$51,540

+23% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

38.9 yr

+8.4 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

33.7%

67.7%

+34.0 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

32.9%

+47.3 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

16.1 min

+10.0 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

334.6

+23% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,657.6

3,030.3

+14% 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

51.5°F

46.5°F

+5.0°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

15.9 in

+27.8 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$4.27/gal

+5% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Massachusetts vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.2

+49% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$18.28

+40% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / WY)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

None

+9.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Cheyenne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Cheyenne?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 65% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Cheyenne?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Cheyenne?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).