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Living in Wyoming · 2026

Is $38,000 enough to live in Wyoming?

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

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$2,720

Avg monthly expenses

$1,876

Avg monthly surplus

$844

Savings potential

~31%

After-tax take-home in Wyoming

Gross salary$38,000
Federal income tax− $2,454
State income tax− $0
Social Security− $2,356
Medicare− $551
Annual take-home$32,639
Effective tax rate14.11%

How $38,000 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

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$405
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $1,946/mo
Surplus: $774/mo
Rent burden: 38.6% — High (35–50%)
Full Cheyenne analysis →

Casper

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,000
Food
$396
Transport
$154
Utilities
$145
Healthcare
$176
Total: $1,871/mo
Surplus: $849/mo
Rent burden: 36.8% — High (35–50%)
Full Casper analysis →

Laramie

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$405
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,814/mo
Surplus: $906/mo
Rent burden: 34.9% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Laramie analysis →

Gillette

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$405
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $1,946/mo
Surplus: $774/mo
Rent burden: 38.6% — High (35–50%)
Full Gillette analysis →

Rock Springs

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,000
Food
$396
Transport
$154
Utilities
$145
Healthcare
$176
Total: $1,871/mo
Surplus: $849/mo
Rent burden: 36.8% — High (35–50%)
Full Rock Springs analysis →

Sheridan

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$396
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,805/mo
Surplus: $915/mo
Rent burden: 34.9% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Sheridan analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,720 ($32,640/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$1,360

per month

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

$816

per month

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

$544

per month

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

Needs / year

$16,320

Wants / year

$9,792

Savings / year

$6,528

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Cheyenne

Rent would consume 39% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 6.5/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $38,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with approximately $774/month (~28% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Cheyenne is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.91). $38,000 here is roughly equivalent to $77,253 in San Francisco or $36,747 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$38,000 is 10% 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

-10%

State household median

$72,509

-48%

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)

$38,000 vs. Wyoming income benchmarks

Individual median (Wyoming)

$42,000

-10% vs. this salary

Household median (Wyoming)

$72,509

-48% 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.