Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Naperville?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Naperville?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 49% higher in Naperville, IL. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,713

+127% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,594

+93% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,889

+82% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$2,446

+65% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$509,900

+64% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$150,937

+96% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$54,720

+6% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

40.1 yr

+1.2 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

67.7%

74.3%

+6.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

71.7%

+38.8 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

16.1 min

31.4 min

+15.3 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

85.7

+74% in Cheyenne, WY

Property Crime

3,030.3

892.2

+71% 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

49.9°F

+3.4°F in Naperville, IL

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

36.9 in

+21.0 in in Naperville, IL

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

23.9

+61% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$15.39

+16% in Naperville, IL

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 Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Naperville, IL

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 / IL)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Cheyenne vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Naperville?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Naperville?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).