Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Manchester?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Manchester?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Laramie vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 32% higher in Manchester, NH. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$667

$880

+32% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,150

+58% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,593

+80% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,661

+17% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$336,300

+11% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$77,415

+48% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$56,530

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

37.9 yr

+11.0 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

44.1%

49.3%

+5.2 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

33.5%

+22.3 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

23.8 min

+10.3 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

339.5

+162% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,175.9

1,691.4

+44% in Manchester, NH

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

49.2°F

+8.2°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

44.6 in

+33.7 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Laramie, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

27.0

+77% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$21.67

+19% in Manchester, NH

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

$1.92

+6% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / NH)

None

+4.0 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Laramie vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Manchester?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Manchester?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).