Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Norfolk?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Norfolk.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Norfolk?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Norfolk Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 17% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,102

+46% in Norfolk, VA

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,032

+25% in Norfolk, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,214

+17% in Norfolk, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,602

+8% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$271,900

+13% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$64,017

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$49,430

+4% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

32.4 yr

+6.5 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

45.7%

+22.0 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

32.7%

+0.2 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

22.9 min

+6.8 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

479.5

+43% in Norfolk, VA

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,800.7

+25% in Norfolk, VA

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

61.3°F

+14.8°F in Norfolk, VA

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

44.8 in

+28.8 in in Norfolk, VA

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

17.6

+19% in Norfolk, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$23.66

+78% in Norfolk, VA

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 Norfolk, VA

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 / VA)

5.3%

+1.3 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.75%

+5.8 pp in VA

Cheyenne vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Norfolk?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Norfolk?: 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 Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Norfolk?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).