Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Rochester?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Rochester?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 12% higher in Rochester, MN. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,080

+43% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,106

+34% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,243

+20% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,646

+11% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$287,500

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$87,767

+14% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$60,620

+18% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

36.4 yr

+2.5 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

65.4%

+2.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

50.1%

+17.2 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

16.1 min

17.2 min

+1.1 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

158.9

+53% in Cheyenne, WY

Property Crime

3,030.3

1,379

+54% 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

45.4°F

+1.1°F in Cheyenne, WY

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

33.0 in

+17.1 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.95/gal

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

16.9

+15% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$14.95

+12% in Rochester, MN

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

$1.66

+19% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / MN)

6.875%

+2.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Cheyenne vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Rochester?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Rochester?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).