Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 8% higher in Washington, DC. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,763
+76% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,885
+79% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,949
+36% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$2,249
+15% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$724,600
+93% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$106,287
+8% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$71,060
+18% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
34.9 yr
about equal
Homeownership
63.7%
41.1%
+22.6 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
63.6%
+25.9 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
19.0 min
30.3 min
+11.3 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
936.3
+8% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
3,627.9
+30% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+20.8°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
39.7 in
+21.8 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Anchorage, AK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
25.4
+10% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$22.01
+53% in Washington, DC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Washington, DC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anchorage, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / DC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.75%
+10.8 pp in DC

Anchorage vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Washington?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Washington?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).