Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Raleigh?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Raleigh?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 36% higher in Raleigh, NC. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,301

+95% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,323

+82% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,462

+66% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,715

+21% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$377,800

+25% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$82,424

+57% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$51,990

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

34.7 yr

+7.8 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

44.1%

51.2%

+7.1 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

52.9%

+2.9 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

23.4 min

+9.9 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

491.5

+279% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

1,175.9

2,838.4

+141% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+19.6°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

46.0 in

+35.1 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Laramie, WY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs GoRaleigh (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.7

+3% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$30.10

+65% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)

4.75%

+0.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.99%

+4.0 pp in NC

Laramie vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Raleigh?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Raleigh?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).