Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
Wyoming vs Colorado comes down to what you value. Wyoming is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 19% lower than Colorado, so the same paycheck stretches further. Colorado ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#7 vs #24), balancing cost against quality of life. Wyoming is strongest on air quality and weakest on climate; Colorado is strongest on economy and weakest on safety.
| Metric | Wyoming | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 0.94 6% below average | 1.17 17% above average |
| Best Life Rank | #24 | #7 |
| Cost of living | #23 | #43 |
| Climate | #38 | #16 |
| Healthcare | #30 | #10 |
| Schools | #29 | #11 |
| Safety | #10 | #43 |
| Economy | #33 | #2 |
| Air quality | #1 | #11 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in Wyoming, you'd need about $124,000 in Colorado.
To live the way $100,000 does in Colorado, you'd need about $80,500 in Wyoming.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Wyoming taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Colorado taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Wyoming is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 19% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 0.94 versus 1.17. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, Colorado ranks higher (#7 vs #24). But 'better' depends on your priorities — Wyoming leads on air quality while Colorado leads on economy.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in Wyoming is roughly equivalent to $124,000 in Colorado for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.