Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,052 in Alaska versus $904 in Arkansas. Overall, Arkansas runs roughly 14% cheaper on rent than Alaska, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $98,152 in Alaska and $60,583 in Arkansas — about 38% higher in Alaska. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in Arkansas
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.90%
+3.9 pp in Arkansas
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,052
$904
+14% in Alaska
Median Home Value
$375,900
$221,200
+41% in Alaska
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$98,152
$60,583
+38% in Alaska
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
62.7°F
+25.3°F in Arkansas
Alaska vs Arkansas — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Alaska or Arkansas?
- Arkansas is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $904 runs about 14% below Alaska's $1,052, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Alaska than in Arkansas?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Alaska versus $36,000 in Arkansas.
- Which has lower taxes, Alaska or Arkansas?
- Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 1/1 cities we track in Alaska/Arkansas — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.