Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Laramie?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Cleveland, OH's $940, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Laramie?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Laramie?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cleveland, OH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 25% higher in Laramie, WY. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$678

$667

+2% in Cleveland, OH

1 Bedroom

$732

$728

+1% in Cleveland, OH

2 Bedroom

$903

$883

+2% in Cleveland, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,423

+32% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$302,200

+221% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$52,414

+34% in Laramie, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

26.9 yr

+9.4 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

44.1%

+2.9 pp in Laramie, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

55.8%

+34.5 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

22.9 min

13.5 min

+9.4 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

129.6

+92% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

1,175.9

+74% in Cleveland, OH

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

41.0°F

+11.7°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

10.9 in

+25.4 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$4.27/gal

+12% in Laramie, WY

Area: Ohio vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

15.2

+21% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$18.28

+20% in Cleveland, OH

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Laramie, WY

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / WY)

5.75%

+1.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Cleveland vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Laramie?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Cleveland, OH's $940, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Laramie?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).