City Comparison

Casper vs Great Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Casper

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

Great Falls

Montana
88
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$55,800
Median Income

The Verdict

8.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 8.0%, with Great Falls being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Casper has equivalent purchasing power to $69,474 in Great Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Casper
82
Great Falls
Groceries
96
Casper
99
Great Falls
Utilities
96
Casper
90
Great Falls
Transportation
85
Casper
95
Great Falls
Healthcare
103
Casper
92
Great Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Casper has the same purchasing power as $69,474 in Great Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $80,966 in Casper.

Living in Casper vs Great Falls

Housing Costs

Casper's housing index of 82 is equal to Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $265,000 vs $325,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Casper compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Casper and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Casper vs $470/month in Great Falls. 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 96 in Casper and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Casper vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Casper and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $70,200 in Casper and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,895 and $63,409 respectively. Casper residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,638/month to housing in Casper vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Casper, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 8.0% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Casper has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $69,474 in Great Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Casper's housing index is 82 with median homes at $265,000, while Great Falls's is 82 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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