Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,052 in Alaska versus $761 in Kansas. Overall, Kansas runs roughly 28% cheaper on rent than Alaska, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $98,152 in Alaska and $63,072 in Kansas — about 36% higher in Alaska. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in Kansas
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.58%
+5.6 pp in Kansas
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,052
$761
+28% in Alaska
Median Home Value
$375,900
$179,500
+52% in Alaska
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$98,152
$63,072
+36% in Alaska
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
57.0°F
+19.6°F in Kansas
Alaska vs Kansas — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Alaska or Kansas?
- Kansas is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $761 runs about 28% 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 Kansas?
- 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 $30,000 in Kansas.
- Which has lower taxes, Alaska or Kansas?
- Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 1/1 cities we track in Alaska/Kansas — 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.