Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Washington?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Washington?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 59% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 51% higher in Washington, DC. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,763

+164% in Washington, DC

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,885

+159% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,949

+121% in Washington, DC

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$2,249

+58% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$724,600

+140% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$106,287

+103% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$71,060

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

34.9 yr

+8.0 yr in Washington, DC

Homeownership

44.1%

41.1%

+3.0 pp in Laramie, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

63.6%

+7.8 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

13.5 min

30.3 min

+16.8 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

936.3

+622% in Washington, DC

Property Crime

1,175.9

3,627.9

+209% in Washington, DC

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

58.2°F

+17.2°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

39.7 in

+28.8 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Laramie, WY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

24.4

+60% in Washington, DC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$27.28

+49% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC

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 / DC)

+2.0 pp in DC

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in DC

Laramie vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Washington?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Washington?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).