CostIndexUSA

Casper, WY vs Houston, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Casper is moderately cheaper than Houston — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Casper, you would need $84,100 in Houston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+40.8%
Casper
74.2
Houston
104.5
🛒 Groceries+5.5%
Casper
95.4
Houston
100.6
🚗 Transportation4.7%
Casper
105.4
Houston
100.4
🏥 Healthcare4.8%
Casper
95.4
Houston
90.8
Utilities+20.8%
Casper
78.9
Houston
95.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Houston, TX
$84,100
$4,100 more needed in Houston

Formula: salary × (98.6 ÷ 93.8) = salary × 1.0512. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Casper, WY

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

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Houston has 40.8% higher housing costs compared to Casper.

Income & Job Market

Casper, WY

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

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

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

Casper, WY
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.