CostIndexUSA

Casper, WY vs Joplin, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Joplin
85.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Joplin is moderately cheaper than Casper — 8.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Casper, you would need $73,100 in Joplin. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing27.2%
Casper
74.2
Joplin
54
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Casper
95.4
Joplin
94.2
🚗 Transportation7.3%
Casper
105.4
Joplin
97.7
🏥 Healthcare7.3%
Casper
95.4
Joplin
88.4
Utilities+8.9%
Casper
78.9
Joplin
85.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Joplin, MO
$73,100
$6,900 less needed in Joplin

Formula: salary × (85.7 ÷ 93.8) = salary × 0.9136. 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×

Joplin, MO

Median Home Price
$216,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
54
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.4×

Casper has 27.2% lower housing costs compared to Joplin.

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

Joplin, MO

Median Household Income
$57,900
Per Capita Income
$33,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
50,843
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationFinance

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)

Joplin, MO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.