Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Raleigh?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Raleigh?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Casper vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 16% higher in Raleigh, NC. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$730

$1,301

+78% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$764

$1,323

+73% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$930

$1,462

+57% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,715

+32% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$377,800

+51% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$82,424

+19% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$51,990

+6% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

34.7 yr

+2.3 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

51.2%

+19.1 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

52.9%

+22.9 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

16.9 min

23.4 min

+6.5 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

491.5

+63% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

2,123.8

2,838.4

+34% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+15.2°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

46.0 in

+33.5 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Casper, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs GoRaleigh (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.7

+3% in Casper, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$30.10

+65% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)

4.75%

+0.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.99%

+4.0 pp in NC

Casper vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Raleigh?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Raleigh?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).