Salary Needed to Live in Laramie as a Single

A single adult living independently needs approximately $47,981/year to live comfortably in Laramie, WY, including 10% savings.

Direct Answer

A single person needs about $47,981/year to live comfortably in Laramie, WY. The bare-minimum salary is $41,408/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 10% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $2,843.

The minimum scenario leaves about $2,519/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $3,998/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.

Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$47,981
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$41,408
$3,451/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$2,519
29% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Laramie

ExpenseLaramieNat'l AvgDiff
Studio/1BR Rent$648$1,351-52%
Groceries$207$2070%
Utilities$140$169-17%
Transportation$224$316-29%
Car Insurance$181$215-16%
Health Insurance$512$642-20%
Internet$61$65-6%
Phone$80$85-6%
Dining & Social$282$300-6%
Entertainment$113$120-6%
Personal Care$71$75-5%
Total Monthly$2,519$3,545-29%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$2,519
Target savings (10%):$324/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$2,843
Effective tax rate:27%

Gross annual salary needed:$47,981

What Drives the Salary Number?

Housing
$648

Studio/1BR rent is 26% of this monthly budget.

Taxes
27%

Estimated federal plus WY state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.

Savings target
10%

$324/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.

Local index
94/100

Laramie is below the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.

Compare Salary Needed in Nearby west Cities

Albuquerque, NM
$49,829/yr
$1,848 more than Laramie
Tucson, AZ
$51,200/yr
$3,219 more than Laramie
Casper, WY
$52,629/yr
$4,648 more than Laramie
Twin Falls, ID
$53,543/yr
$5,562 more than Laramie

Salary Planning Checklist

  1. Keep studio/1br housing near $648/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
  2. Budget $607/mo for persona-specific costs such as Internet and Phone.
  3. Use $41,408/year as the survival floor and $47,981/year as the healthier negotiation target.

Other Household Types in Laramie

Couple (No Kids)
$62,793/yr
$3,192/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$108,972/yr
$5,267/mo expenses
Retiree
$45,900/yr
$2,601/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in LaramieCity OverviewRent in LaramieMonthly BudgetAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a single person need in Laramie?
A single person needs approximately $47,981/year ($3,998/month gross) to live comfortably in Laramie with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Laramie?
A studio/1br in Laramie costs approximately $648/month, which is the largest single expense at 26% of the total budget.
Is Laramie affordable for a single person?
Yes, Laramie is 29% more affordable than the national average for a single person.
Back to Laramie