Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Manchester?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Manchester?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $77,415 in Manchester, NH. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$756

$880

+16% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,150

+40% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,593

+54% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,661

+12% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$336,300

+8% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$77,415

+0% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$56,530

+10% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

37.9 yr

+1.0 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

49.3%

+18.4 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

33.5%

+0.6 pp in Manchester, NH

Avg Commute

16.1 min

23.8 min

+7.7 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

339.5

+1% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

3,030.3

1,691.4

+44% 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

49.2°F

+2.7°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

44.6 in

+28.6 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

27.3

+85% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$24.53

+84% in Manchester, NH

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

$1.92

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / NH)

None

+4.0 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Cheyenne vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Manchester?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Manchester?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).