Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 29% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$818
+18% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$827
+21% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$957
+33% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,278
+35% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$298,600
+21% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$69,630
+29% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$46,800
+22% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
33.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Anchorage, AK
Homeownership
63.7%
64.1%
+0.4 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
31.0%
+6.7 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
18.2 min
+0.8 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
365.3
+64% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,235.5
+56% 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
44.2°F
+6.8°F in Idaho Falls, ID
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
10.4 in
+7.5 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
14.4
+49% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$11.33
+35% 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 / ID)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.30%
+5.3 pp in ID

Anchorage vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Idaho Falls?
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 Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Idaho Falls?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).