Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Rochester?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Rochester?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Casper vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 21% higher in Rochester, MN. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$730

$1,080

+48% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$764

$1,106

+45% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$930

$1,243

+34% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,646

+27% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$287,500

+15% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$87,767

+27% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$60,620

+24% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

36.4 yr

+0.6 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

65.4%

+4.9 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

50.1%

+20.1 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

16.9 min

17.2 min

+0.3 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

158.9

+47% in Casper, WY

Property Crime

2,123.8

1,379

+35% 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

about equal

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

33.0 in

+20.5 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.96/gal

+7% in Casper, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

17.5

+15% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$14.79

+19% in Casper, WY

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

$1.66

+19% in Casper, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Casper, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Casper, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / MN)

6.875%

+2.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Casper vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Rochester?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Rochester?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).