Living Cost Compare
Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

vs
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 2% higher in Reno, NV. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY
Reno, NV

Rent

Studio
$756
$964
+28% in Reno, NV
1 Bedroom
$824
$1,206
+46% in Reno, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,036
$1,518
+47% in Reno, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,478
$1,885
+28% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,200
$498,600
+60% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$77,176
$78,448
+2% in Reno, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,540
$49,660
+4% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.9 yr
37.3 yr
+1.6 yr in Cheyenne, WY
Homeownership
67.7%
49.4%
+18.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
35.7%
+2.8 pp in Reno, NV
Avg Commute
16.1 min
20.6 min
+4.5 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
334.6
528.9
+58% in Reno, NV
Property Crime
3,030.3
2,489.3
+18% 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
53.8°F
+7.3°F in Reno, NV
Annual Precipitation
15.9 in
7.4 in
+8.5 in in Cheyenne, WY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$5.09/gal
+19% in Reno, NV

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
13.6
+8% in Cheyenne, WY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.31
$12.09
+9% in Cheyenne, WY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / NV)
4%
6.85%
+2.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Cheyenne vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Reno?
Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Reno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Reno?
Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).