Casper Mountain provides year-round recreation with hiking trails, scenic Rotary Park, and Garden Creek Falls in summer, plus skiing and snowboarding at Hogadon Basin Ski Area in winter. The North Platte River flows through the city, creating prime spots for fly fishing, kayaking and floating, while the paved Platte River Trails system extends along its banks. Cultural attractions include the Fort Caspar Museum's living history exhibits, the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, and the Nicolaysen Art Museum's contemporary art collections. The restaurant scene features local favorites like The Cheese Barrel, Johnny J's Diner with its 1950s atmosphere, and Bosco's Italian Restaurant's cozy dining room.
The housing market includes a range of options from $150,000 to $1.5 million. The median sale price sits at $298,700, with median townhome prices at $165,000 and median single family home prices at $315,000. Property taxes remain low at 0.62%, and Wyoming has no state income tax. The combined state and local sales tax rate is 5.44%.
The cost of living in Casper measures 13.6% below the national average. A family with school-age children needs approximately $91,000 annually to live comfortably, while renters require about $46,000. Monthly expenses for families average $8,000, including $1,500 for groceries and $1,600 for housing. Renters typically spend $4,000 monthly, with $700 for groceries and $1,300 for housing. Gasoline costs $2.731 per gallon, 16% below the national average of $3.243.