Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Little Rock?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Little Rock?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Casper vs Little Rock Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 12% higher in Casper, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio

$730

$981

+34% in Little Rock, AR

1 Bedroom

$764

$904

+18% in Little Rock, AR

2 Bedroom

$930

$1,064

+14% in Little Rock, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,292

+1% in Casper, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$221,200

+12% in Casper, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$60,583

+12% in Casper, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$45,790

+6% in Casper, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

36.4 yr

+0.6 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

54.2%

+16.1 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

44.0%

+14.0 pp in Little Rock, AR

Avg Commute

16.9 min

18.3 min

+1.4 min in Little Rock, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

1,673

+453% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

2,123.8

5,251.5

+147% in Little Rock, AR

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

62.7°F

+17.3°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

49.8 in

+37.2 in in Little Rock, AR

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

14.1

+7% in Casper, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$27.86

+52% in Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock, AR

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 / AR)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.90%

+3.9 pp in AR

Casper vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Little Rock?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Little Rock?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Little Rock?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).