Living Cost Compare
Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Spokane, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 15% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$756
$884
+17% in Spokane, WA
1 Bedroom
$824
$903
+10% in Spokane, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,036
$1,192
+15% in Spokane, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,478
$1,442
+2% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,200
$326,200
+5% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,176
$65,745
+15% in Cheyenne, WY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,540
$54,660
+6% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.9 yr
37.2 yr
+1.7 yr in Cheyenne, WY
Homeownership
67.7%
58.3%
+9.4 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
32.6%
+0.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY
Avg Commute
16.1 min
21.2 min
+5.1 min in Spokane, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
334.6
683.6
+104% in Spokane, WA
Property Crime
3,030.3
4,931.8
+63% in Spokane, WA

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
48.9°F
+2.4°F in Spokane, WA
Annual Precipitation
15.9 in
17.8 in
+1.8 in in Spokane, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$5.12/gal
+20% in Spokane, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
14.9
+1% in Spokane, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.31
$20.41
+53% in Spokane, WA

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 / WA)
4%
6.5%
+2.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Cheyenne vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Spokane?
Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Spokane, WA's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Spokane?
Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).