CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Casper, WY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableWY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Casper is slightly cheaper than Austin — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $76,500 in Casper. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing38.4%
Austin
120.4
Casper
74.2
🛒 Groceries+1.7%
Austin
93.8
Casper
95.4
🚗 Transportation+4.3%
Austin
101.1
Casper
105.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.4%
Austin
91.4
Casper
95.4
Utilities3.8%
Austin
82
Casper
78.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Austin to see what you'd need to earn in Casper to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Casper, WY
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Casper

Formula: salary × (93.8 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9562. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Casper, WY

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,225
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.5×

Austin has 38.4% lower housing costs compared to Casper.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Casper, WY

Median Household Income
$73,200
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,324
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Casper, WY
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.