Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Rochester?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Rochester?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 40% higher in Rochester, MN. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,080

+62% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,106

+52% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,243

+41% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,646

+16% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$287,500

+5% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$87,767

+67% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$60,620

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

36.4 yr

+9.5 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

44.1%

65.4%

+21.3 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

50.1%

+5.7 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

17.2 min

+3.7 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

158.9

+23% in Rochester, MN

Property Crime

1,175.9

1,379

+17% in Rochester, MN

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

45.4°F

+4.4°F in Rochester, MN

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

33.0 in

+22.1 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.96/gal

+7% in Laramie, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

17.5

+15% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$14.79

+19% in Laramie, WY

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

$1.66

+19% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / MN)

6.875%

+2.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Laramie vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Rochester?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Rochester?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).