Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Frederick?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $57,000 in Frederick.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Frederick?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Casper vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,650 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 27% higher in Frederick, MD. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$730

$1,658

+127% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$764

$1,418

+86% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$930

$1,661

+79% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,863

+43% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$365,200

+46% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$95,150

+38% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$71,060

+45% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

37.1 yr

+0.1 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

70.3%

59.2%

+11.1 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

41.8%

+11.8 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

16.9 min

30.1 min

+13.2 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

406

+34% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

2,123.8

1,696.3

+20% in Casper, WY

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

52.1°F

+6.7°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Casper, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

21.8

+43% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$22.57

+23% in Frederick, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Casper, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Casper, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Casper, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Casper, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Casper, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / MD)

+2.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.50%

+6.5 pp in MD

Casper vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Frederick?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Frederick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Frederick?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).