Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or New Haven?

Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in New Haven?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or New Haven?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 45% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$1,159

+16% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$1,275

+21% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,473

+3% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,636

+16% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$249,000

+34% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$53,771

+45% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$60,060

+0% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

31.9 yr

+3.0 yr in Anchorage, AK

Homeownership

63.7%

28.4%

+35.3 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

about equal

Avg Commute

19.0 min

21.0 min

+2.0 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

536.3

+47% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

3,601.6

+29% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+14.8°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

47.1 in

+29.2 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

24.3

+14% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$23.33

+34% in New Haven, CT

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

$1.92

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / CT)

None

6.35%

+6.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.99%

+7.0 pp in CT

Anchorage vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or New Haven?: Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or New Haven?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).