Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Laramie?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Laramie?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Denver vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 43% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$667

+55% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$728

+54% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$883

+55% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,423

+37% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$302,200

+48% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$52,414

+43% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

26.9 yr

+8.3 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

44.1%

+5.0 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

55.8%

+0.2 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

25.4 min

13.5 min

+11.9 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

129.6

+87% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.1

1,175.9

+75% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

41.0°F

+9.2°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

10.9 in

+4.7 in in Denver, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.16/gal

$4.27/gal

+2% in Laramie, WY

Area: Denver vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

15.2

+11% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$18.28

+21% in Laramie, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / WY)

2.9%

+1.1 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

None

+4.4 pp in CO

Denver vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Laramie?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Laramie?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).