What Salary Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Wyoming in 2025?

Wyoming can feel like two different states: affordable plains and mining towns on one side, sky-high resort prices in Jackson Hole on the other. So the salary you need to feel comfortable swings a lot by city and family size. If you want real numbers and a simple way to calculate your own, you’re in the right place.

• Comfortable means you can pay bills without stress, save ~15% for the future, and still have a life.
• Wyoming has no state income tax, which helps. Housing and childcare are the big swings. Jackson/Teton is the outlier.
• Use the quick formula below to map this to your situation in minutes.

TL;DR

• Single renter: roughly $50k-$65k in Cheyenne/Casper/Laramie; $90k-$110k in Jackson/Teton.
• Couple, no kids: about $72k-$90k combined in most cities; $130k-$160k in Jackson/Teton.
• Family of four with childcare: $90k-$120k in most cities; $170k-$230k in Jackson/Teton.
• If you buy a home, add 10%-20% to those numbers (more in Jackson because prices are extreme).

Sources used: MIT Living Wage Calculator (2024), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI and pay data (2024-2025), BEA Regional Price Parities (latest), Tax Foundation state tax profiles (2024), and mid‑2025 rent and price snapshots from rental trackers and MLS summaries. Numbers below are rounded and meant as planning ranges.

What salary counts as “comfortable” in Wyoming in 2025?

Let’s pin down what “comfortable” means. For this guide, I’m using three guardrails that match how most people define a good life:

• You can pay all your monthly bills on time.
• You save 15% of your gross income (retirement + emergency fund over time).
• You have ~10% wiggle room for trips, hobbies, and the random “my alternator just died” moments.

Wyoming helps with taxes: there’s no state income tax. You still pay federal income tax and payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), usually landing in an effective 15%-23% range for most households who aren’t high earners. Sales taxes run about 4%-6% depending on county, and property taxes are relatively low by U.S. standards (effective rates often around the mid‑0.5% range, per Tax Foundation), though Jackson’s valuations make bills feel bigger even with a low rate.

Housing and childcare are the swing factors. A one‑bedroom in Cheyenne or Casper sits around the $950-$1,150 range. Jackson/Teton? $2,800-$3,500+ for a decent one‑bedroom is normal. Infant care in Wyoming often ranges from ~$750 to $1,250 per month per child (CCAoA-style tallies from 2023-2024 carry into 2025 with modest inflation). Employer health insurance can be a huge win (think $120-$180/month for single, $450-$650 for family, employee share), while unsubsidized marketplace plans are often $450-$600 for single and $1,300-$1,800 for family. Your write‑up should match your situation.

Here’s a city‑by‑city snapshot that blends those realities into salary targets that feel livable, not bare‑bones. These assume renting and paying for a normal car, phone/internet, utilities through a Wyoming winter, groceries, and some life in your life. They also assume you’re saving ~15% and absorbing federal payroll/income taxes, but not state income tax (there isn’t one):

Notes:

• These are planning ranges, not hard rules. If you have no debt and employer health insurance, you can live well on the low end. If you’re self‑insured, have student loans, or want private school, head to the high end.
• Buying a home? Outside Jackson, add ~10%-20% to cover mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and saving for future repairs. In Jackson, ownership costs are in a different league.
• Remote workers who can live in Alpine, Star Valley, or over the pass in Victor/Driggs (Idaho) may cut housing costs a lot while still accessing Jackson’s lifestyle-commute and winter driving are the trade‑off.

Why trust these numbers? They triangulate: MIT’s living wage for a single adult in WY often lands in the low‑to‑mid $30k range (2024) for a basic life; “comfortable” is typically 1.3-1.8x that depending on housing, healthcare, and savings goals. BLS, BEA, and Tax Foundation data fill in the price and tax backdrop. The table translates that into dollars you can actually plan with in 2025.

Build your Wyoming budget (step‑by‑step, with examples)

Here’s a quick method to tailor the number to your life. You only need rough figures to get a solid answer.

1. List your monthly essentials
   • Housing: rent or mortgage, property tax (if owner), insurance (home/renters).
   • Utilities: electricity, gas/propane, water, trash, internet, mobile.
   • Transportation: car payment, insurance, fuel, maintenance or a realistic rideshare budget.
   • Food: groceries + a bit for dining out.
   • Health: premiums + typical out‑of‑pocket.
   • Childcare: daycare/aftercare/summer care.
   • Debt: student loans, credit cards, personal loans.
2. Add a 10% winter buffer

   Heating bites. Rural internet or Starlink can add $80-$120/month. Give yourself slack, especially if you’re new to WY winters.

3. Add savings and fun

   Comfortable isn’t bare‑bones. Add 15% of your gross for savings (retirement + emergency fund over time) and ~10% for life (trips, gifts, gear, a random weekend in the Black Hills).

4. Account for federal taxes and payroll

   No state income tax, but assume federal + FICA eats 15%-23% of gross for most households. A simple shortcut: multiply your monthly spend by 1.35 to 1.45 to cover taxes and saving, then round up.

5. Annualize it

   That’s your target gross salary. If you’re a two‑income household, split it however you like.

Two quick examples with 2025‑ish Cheyenne prices:

Example A: Single renter with employer health insurance

• Rent $1,100 + utilities $200 + internet/phone $110 + groceries $350 + transport $350 + health $160 + misc $250 = $2,520/month core spend.
• Winter buffer 10% ≈ +$250 → $2,770.
• Add savings/fun (25% of gross; shortcut factor ~1.35-1.40 already bakes this in). Let’s use 1.38: $2,770 × 1.38 ≈ $3,820 gross/month.
• Annual target ≈ $45,800. Round to $50k-$55k to give yourself room for travel and the unexpected. That lines up with the table.

Example B: Family of four, two kids in daycare, renting

• Rent $1,600 (3BR) + utilities $260 + internet/phone $160 + groceries $900 + transport $700 + family health (employer plan) $550 + childcare $1,600 = $5,770.
• Winter buffer 10% → $6,350.
• Apply factor 1.40 for taxes and savings → $8,890 gross/month.
• Annual target ≈ $106,700. If you’re self‑insured or have higher car payments, you’ll want $115k-$125k.

Buying instead of renting? Outside Jackson, a $375k home with 10% down at a mid‑6%-7% rate might run ~$2,600-$2,900/month all‑in (mortgage, taxes, insurance). That’s often higher than rent, but you’re building equity and stabilizing costs long term. In Jackson/Teton, median prices sit so high that even strong six‑figure incomes can struggle without a big down payment or employer housing.

Quick heuristics to sanity‑check your target:

• Single in Cheyenne/Casper/Laramie: if your rent is near $1,000, a $55k salary usually feels fine with normal habits and employer health insurance.
• Every $200 change in housing swings your comfortable salary by roughly $6k-$8k a year.
• Two kids in full‑time childcare adds $18k-$28k/year. That alone can bump your target salary by ~$25k-$35k to live comfortably.
• Self‑insured? Add $3k-$6k/year (single) or $10k-$16k/year (family) to your target versus a good employer plan.

City‑specific tips:

• Cheyenne: State jobs, healthcare, logistics. Steadier rents. Good for families and public sector benefits.
• Casper: Energy and trades. Rents a touch lower, winter costs a touch higher. Solid value.
• Laramie: University town. Student turnover can whipsaw rents near campus; family homes rent at fair rates off‑campus.
• Gillette / Rock Springs: Energy towns with real opportunity. Watch boom‑bust cycles; build a bigger emergency fund.
• Jackson / Teton: Luxury market dynamics. If you don’t have employer housing, look at roommates, ADUs, or across the pass in Idaho.

Wyoming move budget checklist (don’t skip these):

• Heating: estimate high-add 15% winter premium if your place uses electric heat or older propane systems.
• Commuting: rural miles add up. Budget tires and maintenance, not just fuel.
• Insurance: wind, hail, wildlife on roads-check deductibles and comprehensive coverage.
• Internet: rural fiber is expanding but uneven. Starlink or WISP can add $80-$120/month.
• Sales tax: big‑ticket items (tires, appliances, gear) feel pricier with 4%-6% sales tax-plan purchases.
• Gear: boots, tires, snow shovel, maybe a block heater. Call it a $500-$1,000 one‑time setup.

One last framing note: The state’s wages vary by sector. Oil, gas, mining, trucking, nursing, and specialized trades often outpay service roles. If your offer looks small against the table but includes housing, strong health benefits, or union protections, do the math-benefits can be worth $8k-$20k+ a year.

FAQs and next steps

Is Wyoming cheaper than neighboring states?
Yes, outside Jackson/Teton. Cheyenne/Casper/Laramie usually beat Colorado’s Front Range on rent and property taxes. Montana can look similar in small towns, pricier in Bozeman/Big Sky. Utah’s Wasatch Front is generally higher. BEA price parity data backs this pattern.

What if I work remote at a big‑city salary?
That’s the cheat code. A $110k Denver/Seattle salary in Cheyenne can feel very comfortable. Just sanity‑check your internet options and travel costs.

How much house can I afford in Wyoming?
Classic rule: keep your all‑in housing (mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA) under 28% of gross income. In most WY markets (not Jackson), that means a $100k household can carry something in the mid‑$300ks without stretching. In Jackson, prices are so extreme that even high earners rent or buy in Idaho.

Do I really need 15% savings?
It’s the gold standard. At lower incomes or with heavy childcare, 10% is fine short‑term-just have a plan to step up when costs drop (e.g., once kids hit school).

What about healthcare costs?
Employer coverage is the biggest swing. If your job covers 70%-80% of premiums, your budget looks way better. If not, shop marketplace plans and check for ACA subsidies-families often qualify.

Will these numbers change a lot in 2025?
Inflation cooled in 2024, but housing is sticky. Expect small rent bumps (2%-4%) in most cities; the Tetons follow their own luxury market rhythm. Energy prices and winter severity can shift utilities.

How do these ranges compare to the living wage?
MIT’s 2024 single‑adult living wage in WY sits around the low‑to‑mid $30ks (varies by county). The targets here layer in savings and quality‑of‑life, so they’re higher-usually 1.3-1.8x, depending on housing and childcare.

Can I make Jackson affordable?
Three common plays: employer housing, roommates, or living in Idaho (Victor/Driggs) or Star Valley and commuting. Without one of those, aim for the high end of the Jackson ranges above.

How do Wyoming taxes affect take‑home pay?
No state income tax is a big plus. You still pay federal income tax and 7.65% payroll taxes on wages. Sales tax (4%-6%) shows up on purchases instead of paychecks. Property tax rates are low, but big home values (Jackson) still mean big bills.

What to do now:

• Pick your target city and family setup from the table.
• List your actual monthly costs (rent or mortgage, utilities, transport, food, health, childcare, debt).
• Apply the factor: multiply by 1.35-1.45 to cover taxes and saving. Adjust up if self‑insured, down if benefits are excellent.
• Compare that to job offers. If the salary is short, negotiate benefits (health, housing help, relocation, childcare stipends) or consider a nearby town with lower rent.

Pro moves if you’re hunting for value:

• Rent first, buy later: learn your utility curve across seasons.
• Ask employers about housing and health benefits up front-totally normal in Wyoming.
• If you’re handy, small towns reward DIY: wood stoves, weather‑proofing, used 4WDs with snow tires.
• Track spending for 60 days. If you still feel squeezed, your top lever is housing-roommate, smaller place, or a nearby town.

Bottom line: outside Jackson, a single adult usually feels comfortable around $50k-$65k, couples around $72k-$90k, and families with childcare around $90k-$120k. In Jackson/Teton, add a big premium. Use your real costs and the simple factor to pin your exact number. That’s the cleanest way to beat the averages and actually live well in Wyoming.

Final SEO note for clarity: if you’re comparing states, keep an eye on the Wyoming cost of living versus your current city. The no‑state‑income‑tax advantage plus cheaper housing (outside Jackson) often makes raises go further here.