CostIndexUSA

Bismarck, ND vs Casper, WY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableND
Bismarck
91
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
WY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Bismarck is slightly cheaper than Casper — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bismarck, you would need $82,500 in Casper. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.7%
Bismarck
84
Casper
74.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bismarck
95.7
Casper
95.4
🚗 Transportation+10.1%
Bismarck
95.7
Casper
105.4
🏥 Healthcare+10.2%
Bismarck
86.6
Casper
95.4
Utilities+5.2%
Bismarck
75
Casper
78.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Casper, WY
$82,500
$2,500 more needed in Casper

Formula: salary × (93.8 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.0308. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bismarck, ND

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.7×

Casper, WY

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

Bismarck has 11.7% lower housing costs compared to Casper.

Income & Job Market

Bismarck, ND

Median Household Income
$83,400
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
73,529
Top Industries
GovernmentEnergyHealthcareFinanceAgriculture

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).

Bismarck, ND
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.