Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Topeka?

Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Cheyenne, WY's $990, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Topeka?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Topeka Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cheyenne, WY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 28% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio

$756

$702

+7% in Cheyenne, WY

1 Bedroom

$824

$758

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$977

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,177

+20% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$130,600

+58% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$55,902

+28% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$49,540

+4% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

38.2 yr

+0.7 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

59.2%

+8.5 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

29.1%

+3.8 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

16.7 min

+0.6 min in Topeka, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

856.5

+156% in Topeka, KS

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,660.2

+21% in Topeka, KS

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

55.1°F

+8.6°F in Topeka, KS

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

36.5 in

+20.5 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

15.7

+3% in Topeka, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$25.12

+37% in Topeka, KS

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 Topeka, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Topeka, KS

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 / KS)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

Cheyenne vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Topeka?: Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Cheyenne, WY's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Topeka?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Topeka?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).