Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 36% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Provo, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,009
+1% in Provo, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$978
+7% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,128
+21% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,381
+29% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$437,100
+16% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$62,800
+36% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$48,010
+20% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
23.7 yr
+11.2 yr in Anchorage, AK
Homeownership
63.7%
39.9%
+23.8 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
45.0%
+7.3 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
19.0 min
18.5 min
+0.5 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
205.7
+80% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,280.6
+54% 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
53.4°F
+16.0°F in Provo, UT
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
19.8 in
+1.8 in in Provo, UT

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
13.4
+53% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$11.84
+32% 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 / UT)
None
6.1%
+6.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in UT

Anchorage vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Provo?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Provo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Provo?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).