Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 17% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio
$933
$667
+29% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$728
+24% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$883
+22% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,423
+9% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$302,200
+46% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$52,414
+17% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
26.9 yr
+7.2 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
55.3%
44.1%
+11.2 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
55.8%
+21.6 pp in Laramie, WY
Avg Commute
24.3 min
13.5 min
+10.8 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
129.6
+86% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
1,175.9
+65% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.2°F
41.0°F
+12.2°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
10.9 in
+31.5 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in Laramie, WY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.2
+13% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$18.28
+25% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Laramie, WY
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Laramie, WY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Laramie, WY
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / WY)
7%
4%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Indianapolis vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Laramie?
Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Laramie?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Laramie?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).