Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Laramie?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Laramie?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 11% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$709

$667

+6% in Fayetteville, AR

1 Bedroom

$817

$728

+11% in Fayetteville, AR

2 Bedroom

$999

$883

+12% in Fayetteville, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,423

+0% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$302,200

+6% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$52,414

+11% in Fayetteville, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

26.9 yr

+1.8 yr in Fayetteville, AR

Homeownership

41.9%

44.1%

+2.2 pp in Laramie, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

55.8%

+6.0 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

18.2 min

13.5 min

+4.7 min in Fayetteville, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

129.6

+70% in Fayetteville, AR

Property Crime

2,392.2

1,175.9

+51% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.1°F

41.0°F

+16.1°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

10.9 in

+37.6 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Laramie, WY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.2

+8% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$18.28

+34% in Fayetteville, AR

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 Fayetteville, AR

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 (AR / WY)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Laramie?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Laramie?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).