CostIndexUSA

Casper, WY vs Rochester, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
More AffordableMN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Rochester is slightly cheaper than Casper — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Casper, you would need $77,400 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.9%
Casper
74.2
Rochester
78.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Casper
95.4
Rochester
95.4
🚗 Transportation8.2%
Casper
105.4
Rochester
96.8
🏥 Healthcare8.2%
Casper
95.4
Rochester
87.6
Utilities+10.8%
Casper
78.9
Rochester
87.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, MN
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 93.8) = salary × 0.9680. 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×

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Rochester has 5.9% 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

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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)

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.