Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Rutland?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$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 Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 44% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$893

+11% in Anchorage, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$856

+19% in Anchorage, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,097

+23% in Anchorage, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,207

+38% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$176,400

+53% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$55,000

+44% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

48.5 yr

+13.6 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

63.7%

52.7%

+11.0 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

32.2%

+5.5 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

14.7 min

+4.3 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

487.8

+52% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

3,973.3

+42% in Rutland, VT

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

44.6°F

+7.2°F in Rutland, VT

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

40.5 in

+22.6 in in Rutland, VT

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

24.4

+13% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$26.07

+50% in Rutland, VT

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 Rutland, VT

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 / VT)

None

+6.0 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

8.75%

+8.8 pp in VT

Anchorage vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Rutland?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).