Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Grand Forks?

Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Cheyenne, WY's $990, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Grand Forks.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Grand Forks?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Grand Forks Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cheyenne, WY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 17% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio

$756

$784

+4% in Grand Forks, ND

1 Bedroom

$824

$761

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$947

+9% in Cheyenne, WY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,371

+7% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$243,300

+22% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$63,838

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$49,760

+3% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

29.4 yr

+9.5 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

46.5%

+21.2 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

39.2%

+6.3 pp in Grand Forks, ND

Avg Commute

16.1 min

14.8 min

+1.3 min in Cheyenne, WY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

360.3

+8% in Grand Forks, ND

Property Crime

3,030.3

2,290.6

+24% 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

40.0°F

+6.5°F in Cheyenne, WY

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

20.8 in

+4.9 in in Grand Forks, ND

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

14.1

+7% in Cheyenne, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$18.21

+0% in Cheyenne, WY

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 Grand Forks, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Grand Forks, ND

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 / ND)

+1.0 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in ND

Cheyenne vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Grand Forks?: Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Cheyenne, WY's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Grand Forks?: 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 Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Grand Forks?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).