Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Cincinnati?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Cincinnati, OH's $1,030, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Cincinnati?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Cincinnati under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Cincinnati Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH — about 33% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Cincinnati, OH

Rent

Studio

$756

$791

+5% in Cincinnati, OH

1 Bedroom

$824

$817

+1% in Cheyenne, WY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,023

+1% in Cheyenne, WY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,228

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$215,300

+31% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$51,707

+33% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$50,170

+3% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

33.0 yr

+5.9 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

38.9%

+28.8 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

41.3%

+8.4 pp in Cincinnati, OH

Avg Commute

16.1 min

23.1 min

+7.0 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

856.5

+156% in Cincinnati, OH

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,877.7

+28% in Cincinnati, OH

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

54.3°F

+7.8°F in Cincinnati, OH

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

41.9 in

+26.0 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$4.18/gal

+2% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

19.5

+32% in Cincinnati, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$22.83

+72% in Cincinnati, OH

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 Cincinnati, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Cincinnati, OH

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 / OH)

5.75%

+1.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.75%

+2.8 pp in OH

Cheyenne vs Cincinnati — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Cincinnati?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Cincinnati, OH's $1,030, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Cincinnati?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $33,000 in Cincinnati.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Cincinnati?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Cincinnati under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).