Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Worcester?

Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Worcester?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 31% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$1,087

+9% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$1,028

+2% in Anchorage, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,476

+3% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,675

+14% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$339,500

+10% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$67,544

+31% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$57,830

+4% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

34.1 yr

+0.8 yr in Anchorage, AK

Homeownership

63.7%

42.4%

+21.3 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

34.1%

+3.6 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

25.1 min

+6.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

640.2

+37% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

1,580.3

+43% 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

47.9°F

+10.5°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

48.1 in

+30.2 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.07/gal

+22% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

29.6

+5% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$30.66

+77% in Worcester, MA

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 Worcester, MA

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 / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Anchorage vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Worcester?: Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Worcester?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).