Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 28% 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
Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$992
+1% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,181
+12% in Las Vegas, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,401
+2% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,740
+11% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$395,300
+5% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$70,723
+28% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$46,670
+22% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
38.5 yr
+3.6 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
63.7%
55.7%
+8.0 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
27.3%
+10.4 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
25.8 min
+6.8 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
433.3
+57% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
2,642.1
+6% 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
68.4°F
+31.0°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
5.4 in
+12.5 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

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 Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Las Vegas?
They're close. Anchorage, AK runs about $1,320 a month and Las Vegas, NV about $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Las Vegas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Las Vegas?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Las Vegas 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).