Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Lincoln?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Lincoln?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 9% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$756

$851

+13% in Lincoln, NE

1 Bedroom

$824

$879

+7% in Lincoln, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,070

+3% in Lincoln, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,379

+7% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$248,200

+20% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$69,991

+9% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$49,800

+3% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

33.4 yr

+5.5 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

55.8%

+11.9 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

41.0%

+8.1 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

16.1 min

18.3 min

+2.2 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

363.1

+9% in Lincoln, NE

Property Crime

3,030.3

2,484.4

+18% 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

51.5°F

+5.0°F in Lincoln, NE

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

30.9 in

+14.9 in in Lincoln, NE

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

13.6

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$15.53

+17% in Lincoln, NE

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 Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Lincoln, NE

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 / NE)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Cheyenne vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Lincoln?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Lincoln?: 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 Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Lincoln?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).