City Comparison

Billings vs Casper

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Billings

Montana
98
Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$55,438
Median Income

Casper

Wyoming
95
Below Average
$265,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$70,200
Median Income

The Verdict

3.2%

Casper is 3.2% less expensive than Billings overall. A household earning $75,000 in Billings would need approximately $72,704 in Casper to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
93
Billings
82
Casper
Groceries
99
Billings
96
Casper
Utilities
89
Billings
96
Casper
Transportation
101
Billings
85
Casper
Healthcare
102
Billings
103
Casper

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Billings has the same purchasing power as $72,704 in Casper.

Conversely, $75,000 in Casper equals $77,368 in Billings.

Living in Billings vs Casper

Housing Costs

Billings's housing index of 93 is higher Casper's 82, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $265,000. The $45,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,928 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Billings compared to $1,000/mo in Casper, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Billings and 96 in Casper. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Billings vs $456/month in Casper. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Billings and 96 in Casper. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Billings vs $384 in Casper. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Billings and 103 in Casper. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,438 in Billings and $70,200 in Casper. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,569 and $73,895 respectively. Casper residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,294/month to housing in Billings vs $1,638/month in Casper. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Casper, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Casper is 3.2% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 98.
A $75,000 salary in Billings has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,704 in Casper, based on the cost of living difference.
Billings's housing index is 93 with median homes at $310,000, while Casper's is 82 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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