Tax-free edge
Cheyenne, WY
Balanced market
Philadelphia, PA

Cheyenne wins overall by ~18% (COL index)

Cost of living: Cheyenne vs Philadelphia (2026)

A $60,000 salary in Cheyenne buys roughly what $72,955 does in Philadelphia (COL-adjusted). Your real trade-offs are taxes, rent, and day-to-day prices โ€” we break them down and personalize below.

๐Ÿ’ฐ0.0% vs 3.1% state tax ยท ~$1,860/yr take-home gap
๐Ÿ 43% rent gap (~$10,200/yr)
๐Ÿ›’7% lower groceries index

Your move simulator

Tell us about your household โ€” we calculate your real annual savings.

๐Ÿ’ต Household income (before tax)$60K
$40K$600K+
๐Ÿ  Apartment size
๐Ÿš— Cars in household
Cheyenne
$3,793/mo
take-home pay
Philadelphia
$3,638/mo
take-home pay

Estimated annual swing

+$13,866/yr

Favoring Cheyenne for this income & household (illustrative).

With the extra $1,155/mo, you could pay down a $15,000 card balance in ~13 months and still keep ~$139/mo for dining out.

HousingTaxesGroceries
Cheyenne
Philadelphia
๐Ÿ  HousingQ1 2026

Studio rent/mo

$900โœ“ better
$1,600
Cheyenne saves $700/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $8,400/yr in Cheyenne

1BR rent/mo

$1,150โœ“ better
$2,000
Cheyenne saves $850/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $10,200/yr in Cheyenne

2BR rent/mo

$1,500โœ“ better
$2,600
Cheyenne saves $1,100/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $13,200/yr in Cheyenne

Median home price

$330K
$290Kโœ“ better
Philadelphia saves $40K
๐Ÿ›’ Food & GroceriesQ1 2026

Groceries index (100 = US avg)

96โœ“ better
103
Cheyenne saves 7

Budget meal (1 person)

$12โœ“ better
$15
Cheyenne saves $3/mo

Mid-range dinner (2)

$50โœ“ better
$60
Cheyenne saves $10/mo
๐ŸšŒ TransportationQ1 2026

Monthly transit pass/mo

$35โœ“ better
$96
Cheyenne saves $61/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $732/yr in Cheyenne

Gas price/gal

$3.30โœ“ better
$3.30

Car insurance/mo

$138โœ“ better
$175
Cheyenne saves $37/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $444/yr in Cheyenne
โšก UtilitiesQ1 2026

Monthly utilities bundle/mo

$148โœ“ better
$160
Cheyenne saves $12/mo

Internet/mo

$68
$65โœ“ better
Philadelphia saves $3/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ Income & TaxesQ1 2026

Median household income/yr

$60Kโœ“ better
$55K
Cheyenne earns $5K

State income tax%

0.0%โœ“ better
3.1%
Cheyenne saves 3.1 pp
๐Ÿ’ฐ $1,860/yr in Cheyenne

Sales tax (combined)%

5.3%โœ“ better
8.0%
Cheyenne saves 2.7 pp
๐ŸŽฌ LeisureQ1 2026

Movie ticket

$14.00โœ“ better
$16.00
Cheyenne saves $2.00

Gym membership/mo

$33โœ“ better
$45
Cheyenne saves $12/mo

Beer at restaurant

$5.50โœ“ better
$7.00
Cheyenne saves $1.50
๐Ÿ“Š OverviewQ1 2026

Overall COL index (100 = US avg)

88โœ“ better
107
Cheyenne saves 19

Walk score / 100

20
76โœ“ better
Philadelphia earns 56

Complete the Picture

While youโ€™re comparing โ€” donโ€™t leave money on the table.

๐Ÿ’ฐ

Tax-smart rewards

Turn ~$1,860/yr tax difference into cash back

Cheyenne fits your move math โ€” cash-back cards stack on groceries, gas, and dining you're already doing.

See top cash-back cards
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ

Home + auto bundle

New state โ€” new insurance rates

Bundling often saves hundreds/yr. Compare before you sign a lease in Cheyenne.

Browse insurance
๐Ÿฆ

High-yield savings

Park ~$10,200/yr rent savings at 4โ€“5%+ APY

Don't let relocation cash sit at 0% โ€” put it to work until closing day.

Compare savings rates

Ready to move?

Open the full interactive tool to add up to 5 cities, drop in your salary, and see rent burden.

Open full interactive tool

Complete the Picture

While youโ€™re comparing โ€” donโ€™t leave money on the table.

๐Ÿ“‰

If cash is tight

Knock down high-interest debt first

A move has upfront costs โ€” a balance transfer or personal loan can lower APR while you settle in.

Compare loans
๐Ÿ“ˆ

If you're saving big

Invest the surplus on autopilot

Brokerages and robo-advisors help you dollar-cost average into the market with your new slack.

See investing options

Frequently asked questions

Is Cheyenne cheaper than Philadelphia?

Yes. Cheyenne is 18% cheaper than Philadelphia based on overall cost of living indices (88 vs 107, where 100 = US average).

What is the average rent in Cheyenne vs Philadelphia?

As of Q1 2026, the median 1-bedroom rent in Cheyenne is $1,150/month and in Philadelphia is $2,000/month. Cheyenne is cheaper by 43%.

How much do I need to earn in Philadelphia to match a $75,000 salary in Cheyenne?

To maintain a similar lifestyle, you would need approximately $91,193/year in Philadelphia to match a $75,000 salary in Cheyenne. This estimate is based on overall cost of living indices and does not account for individual spending patterns.

Which city has lower taxes โ€” Cheyenne or Philadelphia?

Cheyenne has the lower state income tax rate at 0% vs 3.1%. Cheyenne has no state income tax at all, which can save thousands of dollars per year depending on your income. Note that sales tax and local taxes also vary โ€” see the full breakdown in the table above.

Is it worth moving from Cheyenne to Philadelphia?

It depends on your priorities. Cheyenne offers lower overall costs and tax advantages, but both cities have different job markets, weather, and lifestyle trade-offs. Use the comparison table above to evaluate rent, groceries, transportation, and income potential side by side based on your specific budget.

Data sourced from Zillow, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, and US Census ACS ยท Updated Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only

Planning a move?

Salary equivalent: Cheyenne โ†” Philadelphia

How much would you need to earn in Philadelphia to match your Cheyenne purchasing power?

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