Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Dover?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $42,000 in Dover.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Dover?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Dover Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 24% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Dover, DE

Rent

Studio

$756

$993

+31% in Dover, DE

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,047

+27% in Dover, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,185

+14% in Dover, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,634

+11% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$248,500

+20% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$58,336

+24% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$46,690

+9% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

35.1 yr

+3.8 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

47.0%

+20.7 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

27.1%

+5.8 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

24.0 min

+7.9 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

1,025.3

+206% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

3,030.3

6,159.1

+103% in Dover, DE

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

56.9°F

+10.4°F in Dover, DE

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

46.0 in

+30.1 in in Dover, DE

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

19.3

+27% in Dover, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$29.73

+63% in Dover, DE

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 Dover, DE

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 / DE)

None

+4.0 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.60%

+6.6 pp in DE

Cheyenne vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Dover?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Dover?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Dover?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).