City Comparison

Casper vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Casper

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

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

The Verdict

5.6%

Living in St Cloud costs 5.6% less than Casper. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Casper, you would need $71,053 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Casper
82
St Cloud
Groceries
96
Casper
101
St Cloud
Utilities
96
Casper
95
St Cloud
Transportation
85
Casper
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
103
Casper
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Casper has the same purchasing power as $71,053 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $79,167 in Casper.

Living in Casper vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Casper's housing index of 82 is equal to St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $265,000 vs $250,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Casper compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Casper and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Casper vs $480/month in St Cloud. 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 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Casper vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Casper and 100 in St Cloud. 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 $70,200 in Casper and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,895 and $66,889 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 $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Casper, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 14 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 5.6% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Casper has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $71,053 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Casper's housing index is 82 with median homes at $265,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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