Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Lincoln?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $35,000 in Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Lincoln?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 25% higher in Lincoln, NE. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$667

$851

+28% in Lincoln, NE

1 Bedroom

$728

$879

+21% in Lincoln, NE

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,070

+21% in Lincoln, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,379

+3% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$248,200

+18% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$69,991

+34% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,800

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

33.4 yr

+6.5 yr in Lincoln, NE

Homeownership

44.1%

55.8%

+11.7 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

41.0%

+14.8 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

18.3 min

+4.8 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

363.1

+180% in Lincoln, NE

Property Crime

1,175.9

2,484.4

+111% in Lincoln, NE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

41.0°F

51.5°F

+10.5°F in Lincoln, NE

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

30.9 in

+19.9 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Laramie, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

13.3

+13% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$20.10

+10% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / NE)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Laramie vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Lincoln?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Lincoln?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Lincoln?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).