Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Juneau?

Juneau, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Juneau?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Juneau?

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

Boston vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Juneau, AK is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 6% higher in Juneau, AK. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Boston, MA

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$993

+47% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$1,257

+36% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,647

+24% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$1,949

+13% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$432,500

+39% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$100,513

+6% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

39.8 yr

+6.6 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

35.4%

64.4%

+29.0 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

40.5%

+13.6 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

15.8 min

+14.4 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

515.6

+18% in Boston, MA

Property Crime

2,030.8

2,113.1

+4% in Juneau, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

42.1°F

+9.4°F in Boston, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

62.3 in

+18.5 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$5.21/gal

+28% in Juneau, AK

Area: Massachusetts vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

28.2

+5% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$17.35

+43% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Boston, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / AK)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

None

+9.0 pp in MA

Boston vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Juneau?: Juneau, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Juneau?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).