Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Dallas?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $51,000 in Dallas.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Dallas?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Dallas Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,480 in Dallas, TX. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 12% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,259

+67% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,280

+55% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,500

+45% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,559

+5% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$295,300

+5% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$67,760

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$51,440

+0% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

33.4 yr

+5.5 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

42.4%

+25.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

37.4%

+4.5 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

16.1 min

26.0 min

+9.9 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

661.9

+98% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,412.9

+13% in Dallas, TX

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

67.2°F

+20.7°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

37.6 in

+21.6 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.62/gal

+16% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs DART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

16.4

+11% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$30.48

+129% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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 / TX)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Cheyenne vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Dallas?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Dallas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Dallas?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).