Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Juneau?

Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Juneau?

Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Columbus vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 35% higher in Juneau, AK. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Columbus, OH

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,014

$993

+2% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$1,059

$1,257

+19% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,276

$1,647

+29% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,369

$1,949

+42% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$234,500

$432,500

+84% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$65,327

$100,513

+54% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,340

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

39.8 yr

+6.8 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

44.3%

64.4%

+20.1 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.2%

40.5%

+2.3 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

21.8 min

15.8 min

+6.0 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.2

515.6

+6% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

3,093.9

2,113.1

+32% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

42.1°F

+10.6°F in Columbus, OH

Annual Precipitation

40.1 in

62.3 in

+22.2 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$5.21/gal

+37% in Juneau, AK

Area: Ohio vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

28.2

+47% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$17.35

+24% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / AK)

5.75%

None

+5.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Columbus vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Juneau?: Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Juneau?: Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).