CostIndexUSA

Casper, WY vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WY
Casper
93.8
overall index
$1,225/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Casper — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Casper, you would need $79,000 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.9%
Casper
74.2
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries1.8%
Casper
95.4
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation4.6%
Casper
105.4
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare4.7%
Casper
95.4
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities9.8%
Casper
78.9
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 93.8) = salary × 0.9872. 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×

New Orleans, LA

Median Home Price
$253,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
86
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

New Orleans has 15.9% 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

New Orleans, LA

Median Household Income
$61,000
Per Capita Income
$34,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
383,997
Top Industries
TourismEnergyHealthcareShippingEntertainment

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)

New Orleans, LA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.