City Comparison

Casper vs New Orleans

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Casper

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

New Orleans

Louisiana
97
Average
$245,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$43,258
Median Income

The Verdict

2.1%

Living in Casper costs 2.1% less than New Orleans. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Casper, you would need $76,579 in New Orleans.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Casper
95
New Orleans
Groceries
96
Casper
99
New Orleans
Utilities
96
Casper
91
New Orleans
Transportation
85
Casper
103
New Orleans
Healthcare
103
Casper
94
New Orleans

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Casper has the same purchasing power as $76,579 in New Orleans.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Orleans equals $73,454 in Casper.

Living in Casper vs New Orleans

Housing Costs

Casper's housing index of 82 is lower New Orleans's 95, translating to median home prices of $265,000 vs $245,000. The $20,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Casper compared to $1,200/mo in New Orleans, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Casper and 99 in New Orleans. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Casper vs $470/month in New Orleans. 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 91 in New Orleans. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Casper vs $364 in New Orleans. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Casper and 94 in New Orleans. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $43,258 in New Orleans. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,895 and $44,596 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 $1,009/month in New Orleans. In Casper, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In New Orleans, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Casper is 2.1% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 97.
A $75,000 salary in Casper has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,579 in New Orleans, based on the cost of living difference.
Casper's housing index is 82 with median homes at $265,000, while New Orleans's is 95 with median homes at $245,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases