Living Cost Compare
Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 18% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$756
$933
+23% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$824
$963
+17% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,036
$1,132
+9% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,478
$1,304
+12% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,200
$207,000
+33% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$77,176
$62,995
+18% in Cheyenne, WY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,540
$49,340
+4% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.9 yr
34.1 yr
+4.8 yr in Cheyenne, WY
Homeownership
67.7%
55.3%
+12.4 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
34.2%
+1.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
16.1 min
24.3 min
+8.2 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
334.6
936.6
+180% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,030.3
3,351.7
+11% in Indianapolis, IN

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
53.2°F
+6.7°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
15.9 in
42.4 in
+26.5 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Cheyenne, WY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs IndyGo (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
18.1
+23% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.31
$13.70
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

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 Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Cheyenne, WY
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
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 / IN)
4%
7%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
2.95%
+3.0 pp in IN

Cheyenne vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Indianapolis?
Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Indianapolis?
Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).