Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Shreveport?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Shreveport, LA's $990, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Shreveport?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Shreveport, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 8% higher in Laramie, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$667

$756

+13% in Shreveport, LA

1 Bedroom

$728

$843

+16% in Shreveport, LA

2 Bedroom

$883

$978

+11% in Shreveport, LA

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,136

+20% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$178,100

+41% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$48,465

+8% in Laramie, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$44,820

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

37.5 yr

+10.6 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

44.1%

53.8%

+9.7 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

27.5%

+28.3 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

19.0 min

+5.5 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

1,235.4

+853% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

1,175.9

4,048.2

+244% in Shreveport, LA

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

65.5°F

+24.5°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

51.0 in

+40.0 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Laramie, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

13.5

+11% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$16.62

+9% in Laramie, WY

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 Shreveport, LA

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 / LA)

+1.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Laramie vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Shreveport?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Shreveport, LA's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Shreveport?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).