Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or New Haven?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or New Haven?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 30% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,159

+53% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,275

+55% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,473

+42% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,636

+11% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$249,000

+20% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$53,771

+30% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$60,060

+17% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

31.9 yr

+7.0 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

28.4%

+39.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

37.7%

+4.8 pp in New Haven, CT

Avg Commute

16.1 min

21.0 min

+4.9 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

536.3

+60% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,601.6

+19% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+5.7°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

47.1 in

+31.2 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

24.3

+60% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$23.33

+28% in New Haven, CT

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 New Haven, CT

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 / CT)

6.35%

+2.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.99%

+7.0 pp in CT

Cheyenne vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or New Haven?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or New Haven?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).