Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Rochester?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 40% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$756

$750

+1% in Cheyenne, WY

1 Bedroom

$824

$857

+4% in Rochester, NY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,114

+8% in Rochester, NY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,240

+16% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$120,600

+61% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$46,628

+40% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$51,210

+1% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

33.5 yr

+5.4 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

37.2%

+30.5 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

29.9%

+3.0 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

18.9 min

+2.8 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

690

+106% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,533.4

+17% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+1.7°F in Rochester, NY

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

34.3 in

+18.3 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$4.04/gal

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

29.9

+102% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$22.74

+71% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY

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 / NY)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.90%

+10.9 pp in NY

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 16% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).