Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Fargo?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Fargo, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $32,000 in Fargo.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Fargo?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax).

Casper vs Fargo Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Fargo

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $960 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 5% higher in Casper, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Fargo, ND

Rent

Studio

$730

$671

+8% in Casper, WY

1 Bedroom

$764

$804

+5% in Fargo, ND

2 Bedroom

$930

$956

+3% in Fargo, ND

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,368

+5% in Fargo, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$269,800

+8% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$66,029

+5% in Casper, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$51,050

+4% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

32.2 yr

+4.8 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

44.1%

+26.2 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

43.2%

+13.2 pp in Fargo, ND

Avg Commute

16.9 min

15.8 min

+1.1 min in Casper, WY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

504.9

+67% in Fargo, ND

Property Crime

2,123.8

3,726.4

+75% in Fargo, ND

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

45.4°F

42.4°F

+3.0°F in Casper, WY

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

22.6 in

+10.1 in in Fargo, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Casper, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.1

+7% in Casper, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$18.21

+0% in Casper, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Casper, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Casper, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Fargo, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Casper, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Fargo, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Casper, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / ND)

+1.0 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in ND

Casper vs Fargo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Fargo?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Fargo, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Fargo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $32,000 in Fargo.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Fargo?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).