Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Columbus?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $35,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Columbus?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 27% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio

$756

$826

+9% in Columbus, GA

1 Bedroom

$824

$875

+6% in Columbus, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$991

+4% in Cheyenne, WY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,221

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$182,300

+41% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$56,622

+27% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$43,540

+16% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

35.1 yr

+3.8 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

50.2%

+17.5 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

29.7%

+3.2 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

20.2 min

+4.1 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

612.3

+83% in Columbus, GA

Property Crime

3,030.3

2,273.4

+25% 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

46.5°F

65.7°F

+19.2°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

46.8 in

+30.8 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Cheyenne, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

15.8

+7% in Columbus, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$33.28

+150% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA

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 / GA)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.19%

+5.2 pp in GA

Cheyenne vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Columbus?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Columbus?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% 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).