Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Norman?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Norman, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $35,000 in Norman.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Norman?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Casper vs Norman Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Norman

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,050 in Norman, OK. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 6% higher in Casper, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Norman, OK

Rent

Studio

$730

$820

+12% in Norman, OK

1 Bedroom

$764

$863

+13% in Norman, OK

2 Bedroom

$930

$1,056

+14% in Norman, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,377

+6% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$239,300

+5% in Casper, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$65,060

+6% in Casper, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$47,230

+3% in Casper, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

31.6 yr

+5.4 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

52.7%

+17.6 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

46.2%

+16.2 pp in Norman, OK

Avg Commute

16.9 min

22.2 min

+5.3 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

268.6

+11% in Casper, WY

Property Crime

2,123.8

2,294.1

+8% in Norman, OK

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

61.5°F

+16.1°F in Norman, OK

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

36.5 in

+24.0 in in Norman, OK

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

14.3

+6% in Casper, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$31.25

+71% in Norman, OK

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 Norman, OK

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 / OK)

4.5%

+0.5 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in OK

Casper vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Norman?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Norman, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Norman?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Norman?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).