Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Providence?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Providence?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 13% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,116

+48% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,030

+25% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,323

+28% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,627

+10% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$322,800

+4% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$66,772

+13% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$53,680

+4% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

32.9 yr

+6.0 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

41.2%

+26.5 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

34.7%

+1.8 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

16.1 min

25.0 min

+8.9 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

282.4

+16% in Cheyenne, WY

Property Crime

3,030.3

1,665.6

+45% 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

51.6°F

+5.1°F in Providence, RI

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

47.2 in

+31.2 in in Providence, RI

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

29.5

+99% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$16.06

+21% in Providence, RI

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 Providence, RI

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 / RI)

+3.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Cheyenne vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Providence?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Providence?: 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 Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Providence?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).