Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Casper?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Casper?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $31,000 in Casper.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Casper?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Casper under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Casper Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $930 in Casper, WY. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $69,171 in Casper, WY — about 6% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Casper, WY

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$730

+33% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$764

+35% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$930

+34% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,299

+29% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$250,700

+9% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$69,171

+6% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$48,880

+5% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

37.0 yr

+3.4 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

54.8%

70.3%

+15.5 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

30.0%

+3.1 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

16.9 min

+9.8 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

302.4

+39% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

2,123.8

+13% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

45.4°F

+20.0°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

12.5 in

+27.1 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$4.27/gal

+19% in Casper, WY

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.2

+4% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$18.28

+43% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Casper, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Casper, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Casper, WY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Casper, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Casper, WY

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WY)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Arlington vs Casper — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Casper?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Casper?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $31,000 in Casper.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Casper?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Casper under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).