Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Cambridge?

Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Cambridge?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Cambridge?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Anchorage, AK versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 22% higher in Cambridge, MA. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$2,236

+123% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$2,496

+137% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$2,980

+108% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$3,325

+70% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$1,040,500

+177% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$126,469

+29% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$66,620

+11% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

30.5 yr

+4.4 yr in Anchorage, AK

Homeownership

63.7%

33.7%

+30.0 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

80.2%

+42.5 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

19.0 min

26.1 min

+7.1 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

436.7

+57% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

2,657.6

+5% in Anchorage, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

37.4°F

51.5°F

+14.1°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

43.8 in

+25.9 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.07/gal

+22% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

29.6

+5% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$30.66

+77% in Cambridge, MA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Anchorage, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Anchorage vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Cambridge?: Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Cambridge?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).