Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Tulsa?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Tulsa, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Tulsa?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 10% higher in Tulsa, OK. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$667

$786

+18% in Tulsa, OK

1 Bedroom

$728

$847

+16% in Tulsa, OK

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,045

+18% in Tulsa, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,265

+11% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$189,600

+37% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$58,407

+11% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$46,670

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

35.5 yr

+8.6 yr in Tulsa, OK

Homeownership

44.1%

52.0%

+7.9 pp in Tulsa, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

33.3%

+22.5 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

18.7 min

+5.2 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

948.9

+632% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

1,175.9

3,664.6

+212% in Tulsa, OK

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

60.1°F

+19.1°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

43.7 in

+32.8 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Laramie, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.3

+6% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$31.25

+71% in Tulsa, OK

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 Tulsa, OK

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 / OK)

4.5%

+0.5 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in OK

Laramie vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Tulsa?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Tulsa, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Tulsa?: 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 Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Tulsa?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).