Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 10% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio
$993
$667
+33% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$728
+30% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$883
+25% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,423
+13% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$302,200
+22% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$52,414
+10% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
26.9 yr
+8.2 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
44.1%
+2.9 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
55.8%
+28.7 pp in Laramie, WY
Avg Commute
24.0 min
13.5 min
+10.5 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
129.6
+87% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
1,175.9
+81% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
41.0°F
+15.9°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
10.9 in
+35.1 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Laramie, WY

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.2
+21% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$18.28
+39% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Laramie, WY
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Laramie, WY
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Laramie, WY
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Laramie, WY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / WY)
None
4%
+4.0 pp in WY
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Laramie?
Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Laramie?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Laramie?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).