Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Columbia?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $41,000 in Columbia.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Columbia?

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

Cheyenne vs Columbia Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,220 in Columbia, SC. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $55,653 in Columbia, SC — about 28% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Columbia, SC

Rent

Studio

$756

$802

+6% in Columbia, SC

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,026

+25% in Columbia, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,164

+12% in Columbia, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,338

+9% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$243,500

+22% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$55,653

+28% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$46,430

+10% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

28.7 yr

+10.2 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

47.3%

+20.4 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

46.1%

+13.2 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

16.1 min

17.4 min

+1.3 min in Columbia, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

769.9

+130% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,265.1

+8% in Columbia, SC

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

64.9°F

+18.4°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

45.4 in

+29.5 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

15.6

+2% in Columbia, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$29.07

+59% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Columbia, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / SC)

+2.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.00%

+6.0 pp in SC

Cheyenne vs Columbia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Columbia?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Columbia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $41,000 in Columbia.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Columbia?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Columbia under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).