Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Las Vegas?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Las Vegas?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 2% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$883

$992

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$1,181

+10% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,401

+2% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,740

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$395,300

+55% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$70,723

+2% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$46,670

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

38.5 yr

+9.9 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

40.5%

55.7%

+15.2 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

27.3%

+0.8 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Avg Commute

14.1 min

25.8 min

+11.7 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

433.3

+40% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

2,642.1

+25% 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

27.7°F

68.4°F

+40.7°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

5.4 in

+5.4 in in Fairbanks, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

13.1

+54% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$13.83

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

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 (AK / NV)

None

6.85%

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Fairbanks vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Las Vegas?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Las Vegas?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).