Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Providence?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $41,000 in Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Providence?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Casper vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 3% higher in Casper, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$730

$1,116

+53% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$764

$1,030

+35% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$930

$1,323

+42% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,627

+25% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$322,800

+29% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$66,772

+3% in Casper, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$53,680

+10% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

32.9 yr

+4.1 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

41.2%

+29.1 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

34.7%

+4.7 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

16.9 min

25.0 min

+8.1 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

282.4

+7% in Casper, WY

Property Crime

2,123.8

1,665.6

+22% 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

51.6°F

+6.2°F in Providence, RI

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

47.2 in

+34.7 in in Providence, RI

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

29.2

+92% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$25.75

+41% in Providence, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Casper, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Casper, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Casper, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Providence, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / RI)

+3.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Casper vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Providence?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Providence?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Providence?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% 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).