Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Cranston?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Cranston.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Cranston?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Cranston Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cranston, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 12% higher in Cranston, RI. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Cranston, RI

Rent

Studio

$756

—

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,032

+25% in Cranston, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,438

+39% in Cranston, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,688

+14% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$348,800

+12% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$87,716

+14% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$53,680

+4% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

40.1 yr

+1.2 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.7%

67.3%

+0.4 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

35.8%

+2.9 pp in Cranston, RI

Avg Commute

16.1 min

23.8 min

+7.7 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

93.1

+72% in Cheyenne, WY

Property Crime

3,030.3

1,065.4

+65% 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

51.6°F

+5.1°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

47.2 in

+31.2 in in Cranston, RI

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

29.2

+92% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$25.75

+41% in Cranston, RI

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

$1.92

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / RI)

+3.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Cheyenne vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Cranston?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Cranston?: 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 Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Cranston?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).