Living Cost Compare
Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 5% higher in New Orleans, LA. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$667
$953
+43% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$728
$1,019
+40% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$883
$1,287
+46% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,423
$1,392
+2% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$302,200
$296,400
+2% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$52,414
$55,339
+6% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
—
$47,290

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.9 yr
38.4 yr
+11.5 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
44.1%
50.5%
+6.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.8%
42.0%
+13.8 pp in Laramie, WY
Avg Commute
13.5 min
22.7 min
+9.2 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
129.6
1,361.1
+950% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,175.9
5,089.6
+333% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+29.6°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
10.9 in
62.3 in
+51.4 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Laramie, WY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
13.5
+11% in Laramie, WY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.28
$16.62
+9% in Laramie, WY

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 New Orleans, LA
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 / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.00%
+3.0 pp in LA

Laramie vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or New Orleans?
Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or New Orleans?
Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).