Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or New Haven?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or New Haven?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Laramie vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 3% higher in New Haven, CT. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,159

+74% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,275

+75% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,473

+67% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,636

+15% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$249,000

+18% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$53,771

+3% in New Haven, CT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$60,060

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

31.9 yr

+5.0 yr in New Haven, CT

Homeownership

44.1%

28.4%

+15.7 pp in Laramie, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

37.7%

+18.1 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

21.0 min

+7.5 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

536.3

+314% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

1,175.9

3,601.6

+206% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+11.2°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

47.1 in

+36.2 in in New Haven, CT

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

24.3

+60% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$23.33

+28% in New Haven, CT

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 New Haven, CT

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 / CT)

6.35%

+2.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.99%

+7.0 pp in CT

Laramie vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or New Haven?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or New Haven?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).