Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 15% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$998
+0% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,305
+24% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,504
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,881
+4% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$420,700
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$83,198
+15% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$52,710
+12% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
35.6 yr
+0.7 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
63.7%
61.3%
+2.4 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
41.9%
+4.2 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
19.0 min
22.8 min
+3.8 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
722.1
+29% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
3,488.7
+25% in Colorado Springs, CO

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
49.0°F
+11.6°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
16.5 in
+1.4 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$4.25/gal
+16% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Mountain Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
16.2
+43% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$11.92
+17% in Anchorage, AK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / CO)
None
2.9%
+2.9 pp in CO
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.40%
+4.4 pp in CO

Anchorage vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Colorado Springs?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Colorado Springs?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).