Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Fairbanks?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Fairbanks?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Fairbanks?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Columbia vs Fairbanks Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK — about 23% higher in Fairbanks, AK. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Fairbanks, AK

Rent

Studio

$802

$883

+10% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,076

+5% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,428

+23% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$2,019

+51% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$255,700

+5% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$72,077

+30% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$61,810

+33% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

28.6 yr

+0.1 yr in Columbia, SC

Homeownership

47.3%

40.5%

+6.8 pp in Columbia, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

26.5%

+19.6 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

17.4 min

14.1 min

+3.3 min in Columbia, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

726.1

+6% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

3,504.2

+7% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

64.9°F

27.7°F

+37.2°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

10.8 in

+34.6 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

28.2

+81% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$17.35

+40% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Columbia, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / AK)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Columbia vs Fairbanks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Fairbanks?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Fairbanks?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Fairbanks?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).