Cheyenne vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cheyenne
Lakewood
The Verdict
Living in Cheyenne costs 28.6% less than Lakewood. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cheyenne, you would need $105,000 in Lakewood.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cheyenne has the same purchasing power as $105,000 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $53,571 in Cheyenne.
Living in Cheyenne vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Cheyenne's housing index of 85 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $280,000 vs $574,000. The $294,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,116 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cheyenne compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $750.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Cheyenne and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Cheyenne vs $480/month in Lakewood. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 90 in Cheyenne and 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Cheyenne vs $340 in Lakewood. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Cheyenne and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,834 in Cheyenne and $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,878 and $63,008 respectively. Lakewood residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,349/month to housing in Cheyenne vs $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Cheyenne, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 103 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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