Independent Living in Wyoming

Home to points of interest, such as the Center of the West museums, scenic tours and exciting events throughout the year, Wyoming offers a unique cultural experience and is well-suited for active retirees. The state’s overall cost of living is a little below the national average, which may enable older adults to maintain their standard of living throughout their retirement years, and a generally comfortable climate provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy local amenities. Its clean air makes it a great option for those with allergies or cardiovascular or respiratory issues, and world-class medical facilities, such as Aspen Mountain Medical Center in Rock Springs and Campbell County Health in Gillette, provide exceptional care. 

Independent living is ideal for older adults who don’t need personal care or skilled nursing services but want a maintenance-free lifestyle with time-saving amenities. These communities are oriented around the interests and needs of residents and typically provide daily meals, social clubs, recreational amenities, housekeeping and grounds services and wellness services. Monthly rates vary depending on the location and amenities offered, but on average, independent living residents in Wyoming pay $2,714 per month for services.

This guide compares Wyoming’s monthly rates to those in nearby states, provides tips on paying for services and highlights some statewide resources available to older adults. 

Note: Because there isn’t an authoritative source of cost information for Independent Living, we estimated costs based on the 2021 Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey. Independent Living is usually 30-40% cheaper than Assisted Living, so we took the Assisted Living costs and deducted 35% to calculate Independent Living costs.

Seniors in Wyoming can expect to pay $215 less per month for Independent Living compared to the national average. Compared to surrounding states, Wyoming’s average monthly cost is also $378 less than Colorado’s and $183 lower than Montana’s. However, it’s higher than Idaho’s by $215, Utah’s by $435 and South Dakota’s by $532.

Seniors have limited data when comparing Independent Living costs in Wyoming’s cities. The capital city of Cheyenne has an average cost of $3,600, which is much higher than the state and national averages. Compared to capital cities in adjacent states, Cheyenne’s cost is higher than Denver’s but only by $25. However, it’s $1,269 higher than Boise’s cost of $2,331 and $1,448 higher than Salt Lake City’s cost of $2,152 per month. Back in Wyoming, it’s second-most populous city Casper also has a higher than average cost. However, it’s lower than Cheyenne’s cost by $451. 

Independent Living in Wyoming costs $2,710 and rarely provides personalized supportive care, while Assisted Living costs $4,169 and includes hands-on care in senior communities. Aging adults who require continuous attention and regular nursing care may benefit from Nursing Home Care. The higher level of care provided in these senior communities has an average cost of $6,996 for semiprivate rooms or $7,635 for private rooms. Seniors may also opt to receive care in their homes through In-Home Care or Home Health Care, which averages $5,529 monthly for either option. For limited, non-residential care, Adult Day Health Care runs $1,733 in Wyoming.

While independent living is a comparatively affordable arrangement for older adults, it’s important to understand options for covering monthly costs. For many, accessing funds from long-term investments or borrowing from or cashing out life insurance policies provides enough money to cover costs. Homeowners may sell their house and use proceeds from the sale toward living expenses or rent it out for regular passive income. A reverse mortgage, which lets the homeowner borrow against their home’s equity, allows them to keep their home while using it to cover services. While Medicare and private medical insurance doesn’t cover services, other policies, such as long-term care insurance, Medicaid and some Medicare Advantage plans, may provide coverage for services, such as meals, transportation and housekeeping, bringing down out-of-pocket costs.