Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Richmond?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Richmond.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Richmond?

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

Cheyenne vs Richmond Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 19% 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

Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,183

+56% in Richmond, VA

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,195

+45% in Richmond, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,374

+33% in Richmond, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,447

+2% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$328,100

+5% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$62,671

+19% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$51,460

+0% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

34.5 yr

+4.4 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

43.5%

+24.2 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

44.1%

+11.2 pp in Richmond, VA

Avg Commute

16.1 min

22.1 min

+6.0 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

349

+4% in Richmond, VA

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,240.2

+7% in Richmond, 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

58.9°F

+12.4°F in Richmond, VA

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

43.6 in

+27.7 in in Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$23.66

+78% in Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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 Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Richmond?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Richmond?: 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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Richmond?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Richmond 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).