Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 11% higher in El Paso, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$707
$667
+6% in El Paso, TX
1 Bedroom
$816
$728
+11% in El Paso, TX
2 Bedroom
$993
$883
+11% in El Paso, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,423
+14% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$302,200
+76% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$52,414
+11% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
26.9 yr
+7.2 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
60.2%
44.1%
+16.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
55.8%
+28.3 pp in Laramie, WY
Avg Commute
23.7 min
13.5 min
+10.2 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
129.6
+59% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
1,509.3
1,175.9
+22% in El Paso, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.6°F
41.0°F
+23.6°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
10.9 in
+1.2 in in Laramie, WY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$4.27/gal
+19% in Laramie, WY

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.2
+4% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$18.28
+43% in El Paso, TX

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 El Paso, TX
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 (TX / WY)
6.25%
4%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

El Paso vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Laramie?
Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below El Paso, TX's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Laramie?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Laramie?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).