CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Casper, WY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableWY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Casper is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $78,600 in Casper. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.8%
Albuquerque
89.2
Casper
74.2
🛒 Groceries0.7%
Albuquerque
96.1
Casper
95.4
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
Albuquerque
103.5
Casper
105.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.9%
Albuquerque
93.6
Casper
95.4
Utilities+1.3%
Albuquerque
77.9
Casper
78.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Casper, WY
$78,600
$1,400 less needed in Casper

Formula: salary × (93.8 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9822. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Casper, WY

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

Albuquerque has 16.8% lower housing costs compared to Casper.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

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).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.