Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Little Rock?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $36,000 in Little Rock.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Little Rock?

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

Laramie vs Little Rock Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 13% higher in Little Rock, AR. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio

$667

$981

+47% in Little Rock, AR

1 Bedroom

$728

$904

+24% in Little Rock, AR

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,064

+20% in Little Rock, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,292

+9% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$221,200

+27% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$60,583

+16% in Little Rock, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$45,790

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

36.4 yr

+9.5 yr in Little Rock, AR

Homeownership

44.1%

54.2%

+10.1 pp in Little Rock, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

44.0%

+11.8 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

18.3 min

+4.8 min in Little Rock, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

1,673

+1191% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

1,175.9

5,251.5

+347% in Little Rock, AR

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

62.7°F

+21.7°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

49.8 in

+38.8 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Laramie, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.1

+7% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$27.86

+52% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Little Rock, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Laramie, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / AR)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.90%

+3.9 pp in AR

Laramie vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Little Rock?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Little Rock?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Little Rock?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).