City Comparison
Rock Springs vs Laramie
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Laramie scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Rock Springs
Laramie
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rock Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
60% lower than in Laramie.
Housing costs are a major driver: Rock Springs's average rent is
26% lower than Laramie's.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Laramie | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $846 | $1,149 | -26% |
| Groceries | $0 | $377 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $352 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $120 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $138 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $846 | $2,136 | -60% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Laramie offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Rock Springs is estimated at
$33,840 vs $31,776 in Laramie.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Laramie |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $65,136 |
| Salary Needed | $33,840 | $31,776 |
| Household Income | $69,168 | $55,613 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Laramie |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 83.00% | 46.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Laramie has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Rock Springs.
Laramie scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Laramie leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Laramie |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 13 min |
| Transit Score | — | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | 26.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Laramie is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Rock Springs.
From a growth perspective, Laramie is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Laramie has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Laramie |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,051 | 32,511 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 26.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 2.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Rock Springs
Advantages
Affordable housing market with a median home value around $256,200.
Lower average rent for apartments compared to the national average, with 1-bedroom apartments averaging $846/month.
Shorter average commute times of 22.5 minutes compared to the national average.
Access to outdoor recreation, including Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.
A strong sense of community rooted in a diverse historical immigrant population.
Drawbacks
High car dependency with low walkability and transit scores (Walk Score of 26).
Conflicting reports on crime rates, with some indicating rates higher than the national average.
Limited amenities and potentially lower quality of life scores in certain categories.
Population is projected to decline slightly annually.
No reliable data found for average individual salary or unemployment rate for the city.
Laramie
Advantages
The cost of living in Laramie is lower than the national average, particularly for housing and groceries.
Laramie has a violent crime rate significantly below the national average, making it a very safe place to live.
The city offers a strong sense of community and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
There are abundant outdoor activities available, including hiking, biking, skiing, and fishing, due to its proximity to mountains and forests.
Commute times are significantly shorter than the national average, at only 13 minutes.
Drawbacks
Childcare and dining out costs can be more expensive in Laramie compared to the national average.
Some residents may need to travel to larger cities for specialized medical care or extensive shopping options.
Despite growth, Laramie can still feel somewhat isolated, with a "middle of nowhere" feel for some.
The median household income in Laramie is lower than the national average.
The housing market, while affordable, has seen a slight decrease in median home prices in early 2026.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Rock Springs
#318Wyoming, USA
60.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$846
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
95
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
26.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
65
Business
60
Laramie
#17Wyoming, USA
73.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,149
Avg Salary
$65,136
Cost Index
95
Commute
13 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
2.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Rock Springs and Laramie.
Open Cost Calculator