Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Newark?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Newark?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 37% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,111

+47% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$824

$978

+19% in Newark, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,386

+34% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,695

+15% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$337,800

+9% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$48,416

+37% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$61,430

+19% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

34.8 yr

+4.1 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

24.1%

+43.6 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

17.4%

+15.5 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

33.2 min

+17.1 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

582.5

+74% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

3,030.3

1,961.8

+35% 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

54.9°F

+8.4°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

46.3 in

+30.3 in in Newark, NJ

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

23.3

+57% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$15.93

+20% in Newark, NJ

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 Newark, NJ

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 / NJ)

6.625%

+2.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in NJ

Cheyenne vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Newark?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Newark?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).