Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Meridian?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Meridian?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 47% higher in Meridian, ID. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,523

+128% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,540

+112% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,489

+69% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,893

+33% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$485,000

+60% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$98,686

+88% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,100

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

37.4 yr

+10.5 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

44.1%

76.1%

+32.0 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

44.4%

+11.4 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

22.3 min

+8.8 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

150.3

+16% in Meridian, ID

Property Crime

1,175.9

583.5

+50% in Laramie, WY

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

52.5°F

+11.5°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

11.7 in

+0.8 in in Meridian, ID

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.4

+6% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$11.33

+38% in Laramie, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / ID)

+2.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Laramie vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Meridian?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Meridian?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).