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Living in Wyoming · 2026

Is $24,000 enough to live in Wyoming?

Single adult · WY · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very tight

Monthly take-home

$1,776

Avg monthly expenses

$1,876

Avg monthly surplus

$-100

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Wyoming

Gross salary$24,000
Federal income tax− $850
State income tax− $0
Social Security− $1,488
Medicare− $348
Annual take-home$21,314
Effective tax rate11.19%

How $24,000 feels in Wyoming cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Cheyenne

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$405
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $1,946/mo
Surplus: $-170/mo
Rent burden: 59.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Cheyenne analysis →

Casper

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$1,000
Food
$396
Transport
$154
Utilities
$145
Healthcare
$176
Total: $1,871/mo
Surplus: $-95/mo
Rent burden: 56.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Casper analysis →

Laramie

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$405
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,814/mo
Surplus: $-38/mo
Rent burden: 53.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Laramie analysis →

Gillette

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$405
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $1,946/mo
Surplus: $-170/mo
Rent burden: 59.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Gillette analysis →

Rock Springs

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$1,000
Food
$396
Transport
$154
Utilities
$145
Healthcare
$176
Total: $1,871/mo
Surplus: $-95/mo
Rent burden: 56.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Rock Springs analysis →

Sheridan

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$396
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,805/mo
Surplus: $-29/mo
Rent burden: 53.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Sheridan analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,776 ($21,312/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$888

per month

  • ›Rent / mortgage
  • ›Groceries
  • ›Utilities
  • ›Insurance
  • ›Minimum debt payments
  • ›Transportation
Wants30%

$533

per month

  • ›Dining out
  • ›Streaming services
  • ›Gym
  • ›Hobbies
  • ›Travel
  • ›Shopping
Savings20%

$355

per month

  • ›Emergency fund
  • ›401(k) / IRA
  • ›Investments
  • ›Down payment fund
  • ›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$10,656

Wants / year

$6,394

Savings / year

$4,262

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Cheyenne

Rent alone would take 59% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $42,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2.2/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $24,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $170, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Cheyenne is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.91). $24,000 here is roughly equivalent to $48,791 in San Francisco or $23,209 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$24,000 is 43% below the Wyoming individual median of $42,000. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$42,000

-43%

State household median

$72,509

-67%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)
Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$24,000 vs. Wyoming income benchmarks

Individual median (Wyoming)

$42,000

-43% vs. this salary

Household median (Wyoming)

$72,509

-67% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Wyoming

$40,000$60,000$100,000$150,000$200,000$300,000
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Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

Data updated monthly using government datasets.