Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Jackson?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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 Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Jackson?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 44% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,085

+44% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$824

$816

+1% in Cheyenne, WY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$991

+4% in Cheyenne, WY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,121

+24% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$108,200

+65% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$43,238

+44% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$42,850

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

34.7 yr

+4.2 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

48.6%

+19.1 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

28.6%

+4.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

20.2 min

+4.1 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

—

Property Crime

3,030.3

—

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

65.3°F

+18.8°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

54.3 in

+38.4 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Cheyenne, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

16.2

+9% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$27.68

+108% in Jackson, MS

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 Jackson, MS

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 / MS)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.00%

+4.0 pp in MS

Cheyenne vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Jackson?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Jackson?: 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 Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Jackson?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).