Cost of Living Comparison Between Casper, WY and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Casper, WY and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,927 in Casper, WY versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,992 in Casper, WY versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,057 in Casper, WY versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Casper, WY costs roughly 37% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Casper, WY 44% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.57 $14.57

$20.17 $20.17

-27.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.78 $46.78

$99.5 $99.5

-52.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 $9.33

$12.23 $12.23

-23.71%

Cappuccino

$4.21 $4.21

$5.60 $5.60

-24.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.12 $3.12

-1.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.43 $2.43

4.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$6.93 $6.93

-26.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 $6.01

$8.20 $8.20

-26.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.08 $1.08

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.97 $3.97

-17.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$5.58 $5.58

-2.33%

Eggs

$3.82 $3.82

$4.47 $4.47

-14.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 $10.75

$14.50 $14.50

-25.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$15.08 $15.08

-53.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$19.34 $19.34

-22.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$5.37 $5.37

-27.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.76 $1.76

-21.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.32 $4.32

-35.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.41 $4.41

-18.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.54 $2.54

-14.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.70 $2.70

-42.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.49 $2.49

-2.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.60 $2.60

-31.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.37 $6.37

$14.80 $14.80

-56.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.47 $2.47

-31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.60 $3.60

-8.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.54 $2.54

-59.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.30 $3.30

7.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.38 $1.38

15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.81 $28.81

$25.36 $25.36

13.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.09 $1.09

-19.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$45.7K $45.7K

$31.6K $31.6K

44.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.6K $31.6K

$26.6K $26.6K

18.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$166 $166

$186 $186

-10.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.8 $53.8

$62.9 $62.9

-14.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.2 $83.2

$66.2 $66.2

25.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.80 $43.80

$77.6 $77.6

-43.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$13.76 $13.76

$14.74 $14.74

-6.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,323 $1,323

$2,039 $2,039

-35.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$39.9K $39.9K

-42.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.46 $25.46

$63.9 $63.9

-60.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 $39.73

$51.2 $51.2

-22.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$95.2 $95.2

-8.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$144 $144

-17.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 $792

$2,305 $2,305

-65.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 $827

$1,575 $1,575

-47.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 $1,838

$4,688 $4,688

-60.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 $1,786

$2,737 $2,737

-34.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,863 $1,863

$4,063 $4,063

-54.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,915 $1,915

$2,696 $2,696

-28.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,320 $4,320

$5,019 $5,019

-13.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Casper, WY: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $792 in Casper, WY and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Casper, WY vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $448 per month, with Casper, WY cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Casper, WY vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Casper, WY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $792 in Casper, WY versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,323 in Casper, WY versus $2,039 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Casper, WY – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,927 in Casper, WY versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Casper, WY but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Casper, WY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Casper, WY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Casper, WY and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Casper, WY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.