Living Cost Compare
Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cheyenne, WY, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 10% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$756
$818
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$824
$827
+0% in Idaho Falls, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,036
$957
+8% in Cheyenne, WY
3 Bedroom
$1,478
$1,278
+14% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,200
$298,600
+4% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$77,176
$69,630
+10% in Cheyenne, WY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,540
$46,800
+9% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.9 yr
33.5 yr
+5.4 yr in Cheyenne, WY
Homeownership
67.7%
64.1%
+3.6 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
31.0%
+1.9 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Avg Commute
16.1 min
18.2 min
+2.1 min in Idaho Falls, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
334.6
365.3
+9% in Idaho Falls, ID
Property Crime
3,030.3
1,235.5
+59% 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
44.2°F
+2.3°F in Cheyenne, WY
Annual Precipitation
15.9 in
10.4 in
+5.5 in in Cheyenne, WY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$4.27/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
14.4
+6% in Cheyenne, WY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.28
$11.33
+38% in Cheyenne, WY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / ID)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.30%
+5.3 pp in ID

Cheyenne vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Cheyenne, WY's $990, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Idaho Falls?
Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).