Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Worcester?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Worcester?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $890 in Laramie, WY versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 22% higher in Worcester, MA. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$667

$1,087

+63% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$728

$1,028

+41% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$883

$1,476

+67% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,675

+18% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$339,500

+12% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$67,544

+29% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$57,830

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

34.1 yr

+7.2 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

44.1%

42.4%

+1.7 pp in Laramie, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

34.1%

+21.7 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

13.5 min

25.1 min

+11.6 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

640.2

+394% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

1,175.9

1,580.3

+34% in Worcester, MA

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

47.9°F

+6.9°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

48.1 in

+37.1 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$4.07/gal

+5% in Laramie, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

29.6

+94% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$30.66

+68% in Worcester, MA

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

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Worcester, MA

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 / MA)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Laramie vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Worcester?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Worcester?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).