Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Salem?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Salem?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Laramie vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$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 Salem, OR. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 27% higher in Salem, OR. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,075

+61% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$728

$989

+36% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,337

+51% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,778

+25% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$382,400

+27% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$71,900

+37% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$55,310

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

35.7 yr

+8.8 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

44.1%

55.7%

+11.6 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

31.4%

+24.4 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

22.4 min

+8.9 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

540.6

+317% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

1,175.9

2,878.6

+145% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+12.0°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

39.7 in

+28.8 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Salem, OR

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

16.3

+7% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$21.60

+18% in Salem, OR

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / OR)

None

+4.0 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.90%

+9.9 pp in OR

Laramie vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Salem?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Salem?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).