Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Laramie?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Laramie?

Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Jacksonville vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 22% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$667

+41% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,146

$728

+36% in Jacksonville, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,385

$883

+36% in Jacksonville, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,545

$1,423

+8% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,100

$302,200

+14% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$66,981

$52,414

+22% in Jacksonville, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,830

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

26.9 yr

+9.5 yr in Jacksonville, FL

Homeownership

57.4%

44.1%

+13.3 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.8%

55.8%

+24.0 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

24.1 min

13.5 min

+10.6 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

558.4

129.6

+77% in Jacksonville, FL

Property Crime

2,600.1

1,175.9

+55% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

70.2°F

41.0°F

+29.2°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

49.2 in

10.9 in

+38.3 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.83/gal

$4.27/gal

+12% in Laramie, WY

Area: Florida vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.2

+1% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$18.28

+23% in Jacksonville, FL

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 Jacksonville, FL

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 (FL / WY)

+2.0 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Jacksonville vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Laramie?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Laramie?: Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% 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).