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Living in Wyoming · 2026

Is $55,000 enough to live in Wyoming?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,858

Avg monthly expenses

$1,876

Avg monthly surplus

$1,982

Savings potential

~51%

After-tax take-home in Wyoming

Gross salary$55,000
Federal income tax− $4,494
State income tax− $0
Social Security− $3,410
Medicare− $798
Annual take-home$46,298
Effective tax rate15.82%

How $55,000 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 comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$405
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $1,946/mo
Surplus: $1,912/mo
Rent burden: 27.2% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Cheyenne analysis →

Casper

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,000
Food
$396
Transport
$154
Utilities
$145
Healthcare
$176
Total: $1,871/mo
Surplus: $1,987/mo
Rent burden: 25.9% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Casper analysis →

Laramie

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$405
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,814/mo
Surplus: $2,044/mo
Rent burden: 24.6% — Affordable (< 25%)
Full Laramie analysis →

Gillette

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$405
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $1,946/mo
Surplus: $1,912/mo
Rent burden: 27.2% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Gillette analysis →

Rock Springs

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,000
Food
$396
Transport
$154
Utilities
$145
Healthcare
$176
Total: $1,871/mo
Surplus: $1,987/mo
Rent burden: 25.9% — Manageable (25–35%)
Full Rock Springs analysis →

Sheridan

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$396
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,805/mo
Surplus: $2,053/mo
Rent burden: 24.6% — Affordable (< 25%)
Full Sheridan analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,858 ($46,296/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$1,929

per month

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

$1,157

per month

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

$772

per month

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

Needs / year

$23,148

Wants / year

$13,889

Savings / year

$9,259

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Cheyenne

Rent takes 27% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 7.4/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $55,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with approximately $1,912/month (~50% 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). $55,000 here is roughly equivalent to $111,813 in San Francisco or $53,187 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$55,000 is 31% above the Wyoming individual median ($42,000) and 2% below the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$42,000

+31%

State household median

$72,509

-24%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)
401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$55,000 vs. Wyoming income benchmarks

Individual median (Wyoming)

$42,000

+31% vs. this salary

Household median (Wyoming)

$72,509

-24% 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.