Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Laramie?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Laramie?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 18% higher in Eugene, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$667

+34% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$728

+33% in Eugene, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$883

+37% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,423

+15% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$302,200

+31% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$52,414

+18% in Eugene, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

26.9 yr

+8.5 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

44.1%

+3.5 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

55.8%

+11.6 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

18.6 min

13.5 min

+5.1 min in Eugene, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

129.6

+59% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

3,348.9

1,175.9

+65% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

41.0°F

+11.5°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

10.9 in

+35.2 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

15.2

+7% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$18.28

+15% in Eugene, OR

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 (OR / WY)

None

+4.0 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

None

+9.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Laramie?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Laramie?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).