Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would need to be about $33,455 in Cheyenne County, CO, or $16,545 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Douglas County, CO vs Cheyenne County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Cheyenne County, CO is cheaper than Douglas County, CO.
Moving to Cheyenne County, CO is estimated to save $23,856 per year.
Cheaper County
Cheyenne County, COSave about $23,856 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Douglas County, CO is about $33,455 in Cheyenne County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,514 per year. Housing saves $13,286 per year.
Housing: $13,286 lower in Cheyenne County, CO
Taxes: $7,417 lower in Cheyenne County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,060 higher in Cheyenne County, CO
Food: $1,223 lower in Cheyenne County, CO
Transport: $1,514 higher in Cheyenne County, CO
Douglas County, CO→Cheyenne County, CO
Equivalent salary in Cheyenne County, CO
$33,455
-33.09% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Douglas County, CO: $164,967
Median Income in Cheyenne County, CO: $80,563
Living Index in Douglas County, CO 43.71%
Living Index in Cheyenne County, CO 59.88%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Douglas County, CO to Cheyenne County, CO.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Douglas County, CO to Cheyenne County, CO is estimated to save $23,856 per year. A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $33,455 in Cheyenne County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -33.09% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,286 per year lower (-58.14%); Taxes is $7,417 per year lower (-44.91%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Douglas County, CO and Cheyenne County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 43.7% of median family income in Douglas County, CO and 59.9% in Cheyenne County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,286 per year lower in Cheyenne County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Cheyenne County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,223 per year lower in Cheyenne County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Cheyenne County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,514 per year higher in Cheyenne County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Cheyenne County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,060 per year higher in Cheyenne County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Cheyenne County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,505 per year lower in Cheyenne County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Cheyenne County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Douglas County, CO and Cheyenne County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Cheyenne County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $7,417 per year lower in Cheyenne County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Cheyenne County, CO matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Cheyenne County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Cheyenne County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,514 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Cheyenne County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Cheyenne County, CO
Annual Savings:
$13,286 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Cheyenne County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -58% lower | |
| Food | -25% lower | |
| Transport | 11% higher | |
| Healthcare | 20% higher | |
| Other Costs | -52% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -45% lower |
In Cheyenne County, CO, modeled annual costs are $48,243 compared with $72,099 in Douglas County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Cheyenne County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Cheyenne County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Douglas County, CO is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
