Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 42% higher in Juneau, AK. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$707
$993
+40% in Juneau, AK
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,257
+54% in Juneau, AK
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,647
+66% in Juneau, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,949
+56% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$432,500
+152% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$100,513
+71% in Juneau, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
39.8 yr
+5.7 yr in Juneau, AK
Homeownership
60.2%
64.4%
+4.2 pp in Juneau, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
40.5%
+13.0 pp in Juneau, AK
Avg Commute
23.7 min
15.8 min
+7.9 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
515.6
+61% in Juneau, AK
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,113.1
+40% 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
64.6°F
42.1°F
+22.5°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
62.3 in
+52.6 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$5.21/gal
+46% in Juneau, AK

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
28.2
+77% in Juneau, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$17.35
+46% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Juneau, AK
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Juneau, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in El Paso, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Juneau, AK
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Juneau, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / AK)
6.25%
None
+6.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

El Paso vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Juneau?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Juneau?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Juneau?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).