CICostIndexUSA

Casper, WY vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than Casper — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Casper, you would need $78,100 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+13.5%
Casper
74.2
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries1.4%
Casper
95.4
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation7.4%
Casper
105.4
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare7.4%
Casper
95.4
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities2.7%
Casper
78.9
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 93.8) = salary × 0.9765. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Casper, WY

Median Home Price
$316,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.8×

Lincoln, NE

Median Home Price
$304,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
84.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Lincoln has 13.5% higher housing costs compared to Casper.

Income & Job Market

Casper, WY

Median Household Income
$71,400
Per Capita Income
$40,700
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
59,324
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Lincoln, NE

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
289,102
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentFinanceManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Casper, WY
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.