Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or St. Louis?

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or St. Louis?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 44% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$864

+14% in Anchorage, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$866

+18% in Anchorage, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,109

+23% in Anchorage, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,135

+42% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$185,100

+51% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$55,279

+44% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$49,990

+17% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

36.6 yr

+1.7 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

63.7%

45.4%

+18.3 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

40.2%

+2.5 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

19.0 min

22.2 min

+3.2 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

1,372.9

+35% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

2,796.2

5,794.9

+107% in St. Louis, MO

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

55.7°F

+18.3°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

40.9 in

+23.0 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

13.7

+52% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.40

$24.13

+68% in St. Louis, MO

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

$1.66

+19% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Anchorage, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / MO)

None

4.225%

+4.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.70%

+4.7 pp in MO

Anchorage vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or St. Louis?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).