Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or New Orleans?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $41,000 in New Orleans.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or New Orleans?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs New Orleans Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 28% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio

$756

$953

+26% in New Orleans, LA

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,019

+24% in New Orleans, LA

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,287

+24% in New Orleans, LA

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,392

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$296,400

+5% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$55,339

+28% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$47,290

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

38.4 yr

+0.5 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

50.5%

+17.2 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

42.0%

+9.1 pp in New Orleans, LA

Avg Commute

16.1 min

22.7 min

+6.6 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

1,361.1

+307% in New Orleans, LA

Property Crime

3,030.3

5,089.6

+68% in New Orleans, LA

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

70.6°F

+24.1°F in New Orleans, LA

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

62.3 in

+46.4 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

14.2

+4% in Cheyenne, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$16.62

+25% in New Orleans, LA

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 New Orleans, LA

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 / LA)

+1.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Cheyenne vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or New Orleans?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in New Orleans?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or New Orleans?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).