Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Chicago?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $50,000 in Chicago.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Chicago?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Chicago Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,490 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 3% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,186

+57% in Chicago, IL

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,258

+53% in Chicago, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,406

+36% in Chicago, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,554

+5% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$315,200

+1% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$75,134

+3% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$54,720

+6% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

35.7 yr

+3.2 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

45.5%

+22.2 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

43.3%

+10.4 pp in Chicago, IL

Avg Commute

16.1 min

33.5 min

+17.4 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

539.8

+61% in Chicago, IL

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,489.9

+15% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.5°F

52.7°F

+6.2°F in Chicago, IL

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

38.0 in

+22.0 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

about equal

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs CTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

23.9

+61% in Chicago, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$15.39

+16% in Chicago, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Cheyenne, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Chicago, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Chicago, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / IL)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Cheyenne vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Chicago?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Chicago?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Chicago?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).