Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or St. Paul?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in St. Paul?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or St. Paul?

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

Laramie vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 28% higher in St. Paul, 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

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$667

$995

+49% in St. Paul, MN

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,126

+55% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,384

+57% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,662

+17% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$280,300

+7% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$73,055

+39% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$59,320

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

33.5 yr

+6.6 yr in St. Paul, MN

Homeownership

44.1%

53.2%

+9.1 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

43.5%

+12.3 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

22.3 min

+8.8 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

619

+378% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

1,175.9

2,897.2

+146% in St. Paul, 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

47.1°F

+6.1°F in St. Paul, MN

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

28.5 in

+17.6 in in St. Paul, 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 St. Paul, 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 St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Paul, 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 St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or St. Paul?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or St. Paul?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).