CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Casper, WY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableWY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Casper is slightly cheaper than Cary — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $76,400 in Casper. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.3%
Cary
103.5
Casper
74.2
🛒 Groceries1.2%
Cary
96.6
Casper
95.4
🚗 Transportation+2.2%
Cary
103.1
Casper
105.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
Cary
93.3
Casper
95.4
Utilities11.3%
Cary
89
Casper
78.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Casper, WY
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Casper

Formula: salary × (93.8 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9552. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cary, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Casper, WY

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

Cary has 28.3% lower housing costs compared to Casper.

Income & Job Market

Cary, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
174,721
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareEducationResearch

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).

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.