Median rent is 25% lower in Cheyenne ($1,035/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Cheyenne, where the median home runs $311,200 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Cheyenne ($77,176 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Cheyenne, WY
City B
Chicago, IL
How much would you need to earn in Chicago, IL to maintain your standard of living from Cheyenne, WY?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Chicago
Illinois
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Cheyenne — median rent of $1,035/mo versus $1,380/mo in Chicago, a 25% difference. Median home values are within 1% of each other: $311,200 in Cheyenne and $315,200 in Chicago.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Wyoming has no state income tax, while Illinois tops out at 4.95% — giving Cheyenne a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 4.00% in Wyoming and 6.25% in Illinois; Cheyenne has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Cheyenne
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 4.00%
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Chicago (avg AQI 21.0) but not yet for Cheyenne.
Pick Cheyenne if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,035/mo median).
Pick Cheyenne if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Cheyenne cheaper than Chicago?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Cheyenne vs Chicago?
Median rent is $1,035/mo in Cheyenne, WY and $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL. Cheyenne, WY has the lower rent by about 25%.
Which has higher salaries — Cheyenne or Chicago?
Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $75,134 in Chicago, IL. Cheyenne, WY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Cheyenne or Chicago?
Wyoming has no state income tax. Illinois has a top rate of 4.95%.
What salary do I need in Chicago to match my Cheyenne income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology