Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Cheyenne?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Cheyenne?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Cheyenne under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Cheyenne Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $980 in Cheyenne, WY. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY — about 14% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Cheyenne, WY

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$756

+52% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$824

+42% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,036

+38% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,478

+29% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$311,200

+34% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$77,176

+14% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$51,540

+5% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

38.9 yr

+2.8 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

55.6%

67.7%

+12.1 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

32.9%

+24.8 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

16.1 min

+7.7 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

334.6

+7% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

2,035.1

3,030.3

+49% 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

66.7°F

46.5°F

+20.2°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

15.9 in

+28.5 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$4.29/gal

+11% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

14.8

+9% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$13.31

+51% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Cheyenne, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Cheyenne, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / WY)

+2.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Cheyenne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Cheyenne?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Cheyenne?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Cheyenne?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).