Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Henderson

Nevada

$1,580/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 $1,580 in Henderson, NV. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Henderson, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $88,654 in Henderson, NV — about 10% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Henderson, NV

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,442
+44% in Henderson, NV
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,437
+37% in Henderson, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,694
+18% in Henderson, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,982
+2% in Henderson, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$465,000
+24% in Henderson, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$88,654
+10% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$46,670
+22% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
42.5 yr
+7.6 yr in Henderson, NV
Homeownership
63.7%
65.6%
+1.9 pp in Henderson, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
36.8%
+0.9 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
24.7 min
+5.7 min in Henderson, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
271.8
+73% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,725.7
+38% 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
69.4°F
+32.0°F in Henderson, NV
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
4.2 in
+13.7 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.09/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
13.6
+52% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$12.09
+16% 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 / NV)
None
6.85%
+6.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Anchorage vs Henderson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Henderson?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Henderson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $57,000 in Henderson.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Henderson?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Henderson under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).