Living Cost Compare
Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 1% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Casper, WY
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$730
$818
+12% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$764
$827
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID
2 Bedroom
$930
$957
+3% in Idaho Falls, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,278
+2% in Casper, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$250,700
$298,600
+19% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$69,171
$69,630
+1% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,880
$46,800
+4% in Casper, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.0 yr
33.5 yr
+3.5 yr in Casper, WY
Homeownership
70.3%
64.1%
+6.2 pp in Casper, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.0%
31.0%
+1.0 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Avg Commute
16.9 min
18.2 min
+1.3 min in Idaho Falls, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
302.4
365.3
+21% in Idaho Falls, ID
Property Crime
2,123.8
1,235.5
+42% 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
44.2°F
+1.2°F in Casper, WY
Annual Precipitation
12.5 in
10.4 in
+2.1 in in Casper, WY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$4.27/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
14.4
+6% in Casper, WY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.28
$11.33
+38% in Casper, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / ID)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.30%
+5.3 pp in ID

Casper vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Idaho Falls?
Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Idaho Falls?
Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).