What it actually costs to live in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s cost-of-living index sits at 96 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #31 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Wyoming costs about 4% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $385,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,100/mo.
Wyoming cost components
| Component | Wyoming | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 96 | 100 |
| Median home price | $385,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,100/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $135/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Wyoming compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Wyoming ranks #31 for cost. That places Wyoming in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Wyoming metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Cheyenne has very different housing dynamics than smaller Wyoming metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
More Wyoming metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Wyoming cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Wyoming?
Wyoming's MERIC cost-of-living index is 96 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Wyoming costs about 4% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Wyoming?
Wyoming's state-level median home price is approximately $385,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Wyoming?
Wyoming's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,100/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Wyoming-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Wyoming COL index ~94; Teton County (Jackson Hole) is a billionaire-haven outlier with median home ~$3M+, while most of state remains very affordable.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.