Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Casper?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $31,000 in Casper.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Casper?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Casper under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Billings vs Casper Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Billings, MT versus $930 in Casper, WY. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $69,171 in Casper, WY — about 4% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Casper, WY

Rent

Studio

$877

$730

+17% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$764

+14% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$930

+16% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,299

+7% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$250,700

+20% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$69,171

+4% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$48,880

+0% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.0 yr

+1.1 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

70.3%

+5.5 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

30.0%

+7.0 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

16.9 min

+0.2 min in Casper, WY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

302.4

+60% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,123.8

+32% in Billings, MT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

48.2°F

45.4°F

+2.8°F in Billings, MT

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

12.5 in

+1.1 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

about equal

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.2

+1% in Casper, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$18.28

+81% in Casper, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / WY)

None

+4.0 pp in WY

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Casper — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Casper?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Casper?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $31,000 in Casper.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Casper?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).