Living Cost Compare
Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

vs
Detroit

Michigan

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $990 in Detroit, MI. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $39,575 in Detroit, MI — about 49% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY
Detroit, MI

Rent

Studio
$756
$801
+6% in Detroit, MI
1 Bedroom
$824
$752
+9% in Cheyenne, WY
2 Bedroom
$1,036
$1,001
+3% in Cheyenne, WY
3 Bedroom
$1,478
$1,195
+19% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,200
$76,800
+75% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$77,176
$39,575
+49% in Cheyenne, WY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,540
$52,080
+1% in Detroit, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.9 yr
35.1 yr
+3.8 yr in Cheyenne, WY
Homeownership
67.7%
49.7%
+18.0 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
17.6%
+15.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Avg Commute
16.1 min
25.4 min
+9.3 min in Detroit, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
334.6
1,783.4
+433% in Detroit, MI
Property Crime
3,030.3
4,391.6
+45% in Detroit, MI

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
50.3°F
+3.8°F in Detroit, MI
Annual Precipitation
15.9 in
31.3 in
+15.4 in in Detroit, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.85/gal
+10% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
23.0
+51% in Detroit, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.28
$19.72
+8% in Detroit, MI

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 Detroit, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Cheyenne, WY
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Detroit, MI
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 / MI)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.25%
+4.3 pp in MI

Cheyenne vs Detroit — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Detroit?
They're close. Cheyenne, WY runs about $990 a month and Detroit, MI about $990 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Detroit?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $30,000 in Detroit.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Detroit?
Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Detroit under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).