Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Green Bay?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $29,000 in Green Bay.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Green Bay?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Green Bay Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 36% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$707

+29% in Anchorage, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$730

+31% in Anchorage, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$956

+33% in Anchorage, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,287

+34% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$191,500

+49% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$62,546

+36% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$49,940

+17% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

35.7 yr

+0.8 yr in Green Bay, WI

Homeownership

63.7%

55.9%

+7.8 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

25.5%

+12.2 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

18.9 min

+0.1 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

501.7

+51% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

1,331.2

+52% 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

44.3°F

+6.9°F in Green Bay, WI

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

29.5 in

+11.6 in in Green Bay, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

19.7

+30% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.40

$11.79

+18% in Anchorage, AK

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

$1.66

+19% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Green Bay, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Anchorage, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / WI)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.65%

+7.7 pp in WI

Anchorage vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Green Bay?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Green Bay?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Green Bay?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).