Wyoming Inflation Climbs to 3.9%, Teton Costs Lead
Operators with staff or customers in Teton County face costs about 77% above the statewide average, shaping hiring and pricing decisions.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Inflation
Live Poll
Is your household's cost of living getting better or worse than a year ago?
Wyoming's Economic Analysis Division released its Cost of Living Index for the second quarter of 2026, showing statewide inflation rising to 3.9% from 3.4% last quarter. Teton County ranked highest among Wyoming counties, with costs about 77% above the statewide average, a gap that matters for businesses weighing where to locate or hire.
Why it matters
Rising statewide inflation and wide county-level cost differences change what local operators pay for housing, transportation, and labor-related expenses. The spread between counties means a payroll or rent figure that works in Laramie County can look very different in Teton County.
Statewide inflation climbed to 3.9% from 3.4% last quarter, with housing up 4.5% and transportation up 4.3% year over year. Teton County's index of 177 compares with a statewide average of 100, and average Teton County apartment rent reached $3,641, up 7.8% year over year.
The players
Wyoming Economic Analysis Division
The state agency that compiles Wyoming's economic data, including the Cost of Living Index used to compare prices across counties.
Teton County
A Wyoming county whose cost index of 177 made it the most expensive county in the state for the quarter.
The details
The Comparative Cost of Living Index measures each county's cost of living in a given period against the statewide average, which is set at 100. Price data is collected in 28 cities and towns across Wyoming and used to build the county-level index. Because the index is relative, a county's score shifts both when its own prices move and when the statewide baseline moves.
Timeline
Q2 2025: prior-year baseline period used for year-over-year comparisons.
Q4 2025: previous Wyoming Cost of Living Index report released.
Q2 2026: second-quarter index released, showing statewide inflation at 3.9%.
Market Landscape
The Wyoming Comparative Cost of Living Index sets the statewide average at 100 each quarter, so county scores capture relative rather than absolute price levels. The Q2 2026 release continues that quarterly series, with statewide inflation rising from 3.4% to 3.9%.
Wyoming operators with staff or customers in higher-cost counties should factor the 77% gap in Teton County into wage, rent, and pricing decisions. Businesses in transportation, housing-related services, and apparel should watch the 4.3%, 4.5%, and 4.0% year-over-year increases in those categories.
The takeaway
Operators with multi-county footprints should track quarterly county index movements rather than the statewide figure alone, since the spread between Teton County and the rest of Wyoming is wide. Review rent and transportation cost assumptions against the next quarterly release before setting annual budgets.
Further reading
For broader context on how price pressures are tracked across the country, see the Inflation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Buckrail - Jackson Hole, news.
Live Poll
Is your household's cost of living getting better or worse than a year ago?
