Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Cleveland?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Cheyenne, WY's $980, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $29,000 in Cleveland.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Cleveland?

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

Cheyenne vs Cleveland Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cheyenne, WY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 49% 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

Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio

$756

$678

+10% in Cheyenne, WY

1 Bedroom

$824

$732

+11% in Cheyenne, WY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$903

+13% in Cheyenne, WY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,081

+27% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$94,100

+70% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$39,187

+49% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$50,140

+3% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

36.3 yr

+2.6 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

41.2%

+26.5 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

21.3%

+11.6 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

22.9 min

+6.8 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

1,582

+373% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

3,030.3

4,531.3

+50% in Cleveland, 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

52.7°F

+6.2°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

36.4 in

+20.4 in in Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$22.83

+72% in Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Cleveland, 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 Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Cleveland?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Cheyenne, WY's $980, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Cleveland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $29,000 in Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Cleveland?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Cleveland 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).