Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Jackson?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Jackson?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Casper vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 37% higher in Casper, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$730

$1,085

+49% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$764

$816

+7% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$930

$991

+7% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,121

+14% in Casper, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$108,200

+57% in Casper, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$43,238

+37% in Casper, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$42,850

+12% in Casper, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

34.7 yr

+2.3 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

48.6%

+21.7 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

28.6%

+1.4 pp in Casper, WY

Avg Commute

16.9 min

20.2 min

+3.3 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

—

Property Crime

2,123.8

—

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

65.3°F

+19.9°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

54.3 in

+41.8 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Casper, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.9

+2% in Casper, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$29.04

+59% in Jackson, MS

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 Jackson, MS

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 / MS)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.00%

+4.0 pp in MS

Casper vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Jackson?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Jackson?: 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 Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Jackson?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).