Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,052 in Alaska versus $1,166 in Utah. Overall, Alaska runs roughly 10% cheaper on rent than Utah, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $98,152 in Alaska and $74,925 in Utah — about 24% higher in Alaska. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
None
6.1%
+6.1 pp in Utah
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in Utah
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,052
$1,166
+11% in Utah
Median Home Value
$375,900
$495,700
+32% in Utah
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$98,152
$74,925
+24% in Alaska
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
52.8°F
+15.4°F in Utah
Alaska vs Utah — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Alaska or Utah?
- Alaska is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,052 runs about 10% below Utah's $1,166, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Alaska than in Utah?
- 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 $47,000 in Utah.
- Which has lower taxes, Alaska or Utah?
- Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 1/1 cities we track in Alaska/Utah — 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.