Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Providence?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Providence?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 22% higher in Providence, RI. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,116

+67% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,030

+41% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,323

+50% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,627

+14% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$322,800

+7% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$66,772

+27% in Providence, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$53,680

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

32.9 yr

+6.0 yr in Providence, RI

Homeownership

44.1%

41.2%

+2.9 pp in Laramie, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

34.7%

+21.1 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

25.0 min

+11.5 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

282.4

+118% in Providence, RI

Property Crime

1,175.9

1,665.6

+42% in Providence, RI

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

51.6°F

+10.6°F in Providence, RI

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

47.2 in

+36.3 in in Providence, RI

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

29.2

+92% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$25.75

+41% in Providence, RI

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 Providence, RI

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 / RI)

+3.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Laramie vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Providence?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Providence?: 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 Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Providence?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).