Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Juneau?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Juneau?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Eugene vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 36% higher in Juneau, AK. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$993

+2% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,257

+16% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,647

+17% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,949

+16% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$432,500

+1% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$100,513

+57% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

39.8 yr

+4.4 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

47.6%

64.4%

+16.8 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

40.5%

+3.7 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

18.6 min

15.8 min

+2.8 min in Eugene, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

515.6

+61% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

3,348.9

2,113.1

+37% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

42.1°F

+10.4°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

62.3 in

+16.2 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

28.2

+73% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$17.35

+20% in Eugene, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / AK)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

None

+9.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Juneau?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Juneau?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).