Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Laramie?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Laramie?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Jackson, MS versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 18% higher in Laramie, WY. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$667

+39% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$728

+11% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$991

$883

+11% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,423

+27% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$302,200

+179% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$52,414

+21% in Laramie, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

26.9 yr

+7.8 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

44.1%

+4.5 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

55.8%

+27.2 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

20.2 min

13.5 min

+6.7 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

129.6

Property Crime

—

1,175.9

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.3°F

41.0°F

+24.3°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

10.9 in

+43.4 in in Jackson, MS

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)

14.9

15.2

+2% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$18.28

+37% in Jackson, MS

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 Jackson, MS

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 (MS / WY)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Laramie?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Laramie?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).