Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Huntsville?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $36,000 in Huntsville.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Huntsville?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Huntsville Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 8% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio

$756

$815

+8% in Huntsville, AL

1 Bedroom

$824

$900

+9% in Huntsville, AL

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,080

+4% in Huntsville, AL

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,251

+15% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$263,100

+15% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$70,778

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$51,740

+0% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

36.4 yr

+2.5 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

58.1%

+9.6 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

46.2%

+13.3 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

16.1 min

19.3 min

+3.2 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

483.2

+44% in Huntsville, AL

Property Crime

3,030.3

2,395.7

+21% 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

62.1°F

+15.6°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

54.3 in

+38.4 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

16.4

+8% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$24.06

+32% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL

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 / AL)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.00%

+5.0 pp in AL

Cheyenne vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Huntsville?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Huntsville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Huntsville?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).