CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Casper, WY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableWY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Casper is moderately cheaper than Boulder — 10.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $71,300 in Casper. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing52.7%
Boulder
157
Casper
74.2
🛒 Groceries0.7%
Boulder
96.1
Casper
95.4
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Boulder
104.8
Casper
105.4
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Boulder
94.8
Casper
95.4
Utilities4.6%
Boulder
82.7
Casper
78.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Casper, WY
$71,300
$8,700 less needed in Casper

Formula: salary × (93.8 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.8916. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Casper, WY

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

Boulder has 52.7% lower housing costs compared to Casper.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

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).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.