Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK — about 13% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Colorado vs West Coast (PADD 5).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Colorado Springs vs Fairbanks — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Fairbanks?
- Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Fairbanks?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.
- Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Fairbanks?
- Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Fairbanks 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).