Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 18% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,468
+47% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,688
+60% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$2,148
+50% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$2,489
+28% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$879,500
+134% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$80,366
+18% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$55,850
+7% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
36.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
63.7%
36.3%
+27.4 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
37.8%
+0.1 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
19.0 min
31.1 min
+12.1 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
730.3
+28% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,501.4
+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
67.0°F
+29.6°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
21.2 in
+3.3 in in Los Angeles, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.40/gal
+6% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
33.3
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$20.72
+44% in Los Angeles, CA

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 / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
13.30%
+13.3 pp in CA

Anchorage vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Los Angeles?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Los Angeles?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).