Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Lexington?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $35,000 in Lexington.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Lexington?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Lexington Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,070 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 12% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio

$756

$769

+2% in Lexington, KY

1 Bedroom

$824

$887

+8% in Lexington, KY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,119

+8% in Lexington, KY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,408

+5% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$272,100

+13% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$67,631

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$48,620

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

35.2 yr

+3.7 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

53.6%

+14.1 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

47.3%

+14.4 pp in Lexington, KY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

20.8 min

+4.7 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

269.1

+20% in Cheyenne, WY

Property Crime

3,030.3

2,304.4

+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

55.6°F

+9.1°F in Lexington, KY

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

45.2 in

+29.2 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

15.0

+1% in Lexington, KY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$29.48

+121% in Lexington, KY

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 Lexington, KY

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 / KY)

+2.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.50%

+3.5 pp in KY

Cheyenne vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Lexington?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Lexington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Lexington?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).