Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Wilmington?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Wilmington?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Cheyenne vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$980/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 28% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,103

+46% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$824

$1,024

+24% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,213

+17% in Wilmington, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,394

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$224,500

+28% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$55,269

+28% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$54,310

+5% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

37.0 yr

+1.9 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

46.0%

+21.7 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

33.1%

+0.2 pp in Wilmington, DE

Avg Commute

16.1 min

23.0 min

+6.9 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

1,138.2

+240% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

3,030.3

3,182.4

+5% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+8.4°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

43.1 in

+27.1 in in Wilmington, DE

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

19.4

+31% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.31

$22.51

+69% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)

None

+4.0 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.60%

+6.6 pp in DE

Cheyenne vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Wilmington?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cheyenne than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Wilmington?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).