Living Cost Compare
Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 46% higher in South Burlington, VT. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$667
$1,557
+133% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$728
$1,533
+111% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$883
$1,805
+104% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,423
$2,356
+66% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$302,200
$399,600
+32% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$52,414
$97,229
+86% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
—
$60,020

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.9 yr
38.8 yr
+11.9 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
44.1%
60.1%
+16.0 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.8%
65.1%
+9.3 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
13.5 min
18.9 min
+5.4 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
129.6
239.4
+85% in South Burlington, VT
Property Crime
1,175.9
4,446
+278% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+5.0°F in South Burlington, VT
Annual Precipitation
10.9 in
36.8 in
+25.9 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Laramie, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
24.4
+60% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.28
$26.07
+43% in South Burlington, VT

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
$1.92
+6% in Laramie, WY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Laramie, WY
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / VT)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Laramie vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or South Burlington?
Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or South Burlington?
Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).