Cost of Living in
Gillette, WY

The Gillette, WY Cost of Living Reality Check: 2026 Update

If you are looking at the Cost of Living Index (COL) for Gillette and seeing a score of 90.8—sitting 9.2% below the national average—you are looking at a statistical mirage. That number is an aggregate heavily weighted by cheap land and low population density, but it fails to account for the specific tax structure and supply chain costs of a remote energy hub. The median household income sits at $90,699, which mathematically suggests a single earner needs roughly $49,884 just to keep the lights on. However, that baseline barely covers the "four walls" of existence. To live here without constant financial anxiety, you aren't looking for "comfort"; you are looking for a buffer against the volatility of a resource-based economy. The "real" price tag for a standard life—renting a decent place, driving a reliable truck, and saving a dime for retirement—is likely pushing $55,000+ for a single individual, simply because the cost of goods and services aggressively claws back the savings you get on housing.

The Big Items: Where the Money Actually Goes

The narrative that Gillette is "cheap" is a dangerous oversimplification for a relocator. While you won't face the $2,500 monthly rents of a coastal city, the local housing market is a trap of a different sort: equity illusion. The median home price is hovering around $359,900. In a normal market, that price point would be accompanied by a 3% mortgage rate. Today, you are likely financing that amount at 6.5% to 7%. That turns a theoretical mortgage payment into a brutal reality of roughly $2,270 per month (excluding taxes and insurance). For a single earner making $49,884, that housing cost alone consumes nearly 55% of gross income. This is the "sticker shock" phase. Renting is theoretically safer, but Gillette has a chronic shortage of high-quality rentals because the landlord class knows they can charge premium rates to oil field workers who have per diem. If you are renting, you are subsidizing someone else’s mortgage, but if you are buying in this rate environment, you are essentially locking yourself into a high-debt scenario where the asset value is tied strictly to the health of the energy sector.

Taxes are the silent killer in Wyoming. The state income tax is 0%, which looks fantastic on paper until you look at the property tax bite. Wyoming funds its schools almost exclusively through property taxes because there is no state income tax to bleed you. In Campbell County, expect effective property tax rates to hover around 0.65% to 0.75% of the assessed value. On a $359,900 home, that is roughly $2,339 per year, or $195 monthly, tacked onto your mortgage escrow. Meanwhile, the sales tax sits at 6% (5% state + 1% local). You might think, "No income tax saves me $4,000 a year," but if you buy a $359,900 house, you are paying that savings right back to the county in property taxes. It’s a shell game. For a single earner, the lack of income tax is a wash if you own property; if you rent, you benefit slightly, but you pay for it through higher rent as landlords pass those tax costs to you.

Groceries and gas in Gillette are where the "remote tax" really bites. You are roughly 130 miles from a major distribution hub in Rapid City, SD, and 260 miles from Denver. Every gallon of milk, box of cereal, and tank of gas has freight costs baked in. Expect to pay a 10% to 15% premium on the national baseline for groceries. A standard trip to the grocery store for a week’s worth of food for one person will run you $120–$150, whereas in a major metro with competition like Walmart and Kroger, you might see $90–$110. Gas prices are notoriously volatile here because they track closely with crude oil outputs. While the national average might be $3.40/gallon, Gillette frequently swings between $3.20 and $3.80 depending on refinery output. If you commute in a heavy truck (which is the standard vehicle here), driving 20 miles round trip to work costs you real money that the COL index doesn't capture.

Hidden 'Gotcha' Costs

The "gotcha" costs in Gillette are specific to its geography and climate, and they will nickel and dime you to death if you aren't prepared. The most significant hidden cost is insurance. Because Wyoming is a rural, high-wind state with limited carrier competition, auto insurance premiums are historically 20% to 30% higher than the national average. A clean-record driver with a truck should budget $150–$200/month, not the $110 they might pay elsewhere. Furthermore, if you buy a home, you will be strongly advised to carry "wind/hail" deductibles that are separate from your standard deductible, often set at 1% or 2% of the dwelling coverage. On a $359,900 house, a 2% wind deductible is a $7,198 out-of-pocket risk every time a storm rolls through.

HOA fees are another trap. While Gillette isn't a dense condo market, many of the newer subdivisions on the outskirts (like the areas near the Donkey Creek development) have HOAs to maintain shared wells or private roads. These fees can range from $50 to $150/month. The "gotcha" here is that these HOAs are often underfunded; when the private road needs repaving after a hard winter, you will face a special assessment that could run into the thousands. Additionally, consider the cost of heating. While electric rates at 12.47 cents/kWh are decent compared to California or New York, the heating season in Gillette runs from October to May. A poorly insulated older home can easily generate electric bills of $300–$400 during a cold snap. Parking is generally free, but if you work in the energy sector, you may pay for specialized parking or storage for equipment, which can run $100/month.

Lifestyle Inflation: The Cost of Being Bored

In a town of roughly 30,000 people, the entertainment options are limited, and the cost of "going out" is disproportionately high compared to the quality. You aren't paying for the experience; you are paying for the lack of competition. A decent night out—dinner and two drinks at a mid-tier spot like The Firehouse or a similar establishment—will easily run $60–$80 per person. A domestic draft beer that costs $4 in a competitive market is often $6–$7 here.

Gym memberships are another area where you get poor bang for your buck. The local options are limited, and the premium facilities charge accordingly. Expect to pay $45–$60/month for a membership that in a larger city would cost $30 with better equipment.

Coffee is the daily bleed. A specialty latte at a local shop will set you back $5.50–$6.00. If you buy one every workday ($6 x 22 days), that’s $132/month, or $1,584/year—roughly 3% of your entire gross income for a single earner. These aren't luxuries; in a harsh climate, they are morale boosters, but they cost a premium.

Salary Scenarios: What You Actually Need

To survive in Gillette, you need to look beyond the "comfortable" index and run the numbers on a three-tier lifestyle. The table below breaks down what a single earner and a family of four need to bring home to avoid drowning in debt. Note that "Comfortable" assumes you are saving 15% for retirement and have a car payment.

Scenario Analysis

Frugal (Single: $45k-$52k / Family: $75k-$85k)
This is the "survival" mode. For a single person, earning $45,000 (approx. $21.60/hour) leaves you with virtually no margin. You are likely renting a room or a very small apartment, driving a paid-off vehicle, and eating mostly home-cooked meals. You are relying on the 0% state income tax to make the math work, but one major car repair ($800) or medical bill wipes out your savings. For a family at $75,000, this is tight. You are likely in an older home or a cramped rental, and you are budgeting strictly for groceries. You cannot afford private school, and public extracurriculars will stretch the budget.

Moderate (Single: $55k-$68k / Family: $95k-$115k)
This is the "stable" zone. A single earner at $60,000 can afford to rent a decent 2-bedroom or buy that $359,900 home (though it will be roughly 30-40% of take-home pay). You can afford a reliable truck payment ($500/month) and eat out occasionally. You are likely contributing to a 401(k) up to the match. For a family at $100,000, life is manageable. You can afford the mortgage, the daycare costs (which are high in Gillette due to scarcity), and a modest vacation. However, you are still sensitive to inflation; if gas jumps to $4.00/gallon, you feel it immediately.

Comfortable (Single: $75k+ / Family: $130k+)
This is the "buffer" zone. When you cross $75,000 as a single earner, you stop tracking every penny at the grocery store. You can max out a Roth IRA, save for a house down payment aggressively, and drive a new vehicle. The stress of the "hidden costs" (insurance, taxes, heating) becomes negligible. For a family at $130,000+, you are likely the upper tier of the local middle class. You can handle a mortgage on a nicer home, afford sports and activities for the kids, and save significantly for college. Crucially, this income level allows you to weather the economic downturns that often hit energy towns, providing the safety net that the lower salary tiers lack.