Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Pittsburgh?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Pittsburgh?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 17% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,109

+47% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,079

+31% in Pittsburgh, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,269

+22% in Pittsburgh, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,450

+2% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$193,200

+38% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$64,137

+17% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$49,650

+4% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

33.5 yr

+5.4 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

47.2%

+20.5 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

47.8%

+14.9 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

16.1 min

23.1 min

+7.0 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

436

+30% in Pittsburgh, PA

Property Crime

3,030.3

2,315.7

+24% 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

51.8°F

+5.3°F in Pittsburgh, PA

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

39.3 in

+23.4 in in Pittsburgh, PA

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

21.6

+46% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$19.17

+44% in Pittsburgh, PA

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 Pittsburgh, PA

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 / PA)

+2.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.07%

+3.1 pp in PA

Cheyenne vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Pittsburgh?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Pittsburgh?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).