Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 40% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$707
+29% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$816
+22% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$993
+31% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,252
+36% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$171,700
+54% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$58,734
+40% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$39,510
+34% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
34.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Anchorage, AK
Homeownership
63.7%
60.2%
+3.5 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
27.5%
+10.2 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
23.7 min
+4.7 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
319.7
+69% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,509.3
+46% 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
64.6°F
+27.2°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
9.7 in
+8.2 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.62/gal
+29% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
16.4
+42% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$30.48
+112% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in El Paso, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anchorage, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / TX)
None
6.25%
+6.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Anchorage vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or El Paso?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax 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).